§ Q3. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Lord Privy Seal, in a television broadcast on 20th June, concerning Her Majesty's Government's negotiations to join the Common Market represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Q4. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister if the speech of the Lord Privy Seal during his Broadcast on television on 20th June, on Britain's application to join the Common Market, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal repeated the arguments for joining the Common Market provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made for the interests of the Commonwealth, of British agriculture and of our European Free Trade Association partners.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs the Prime Minister aware that the Lord Privy Seal said that entering the Common Market was compatible with Socialist planning, whereas the fact is that any measures, such as priority, discrimination or control of the movement of capital, that interfere with competition are prohibited under the Common Market and, therefore, Socialist planning is impossible?
§ The Prime MinisterWhile, naturally, I should feel very sad if that were true and should offer my condolences if it were so, we have had a debate which lasted for two days and which was a very good debate. I do not think that the House would expect me to deal with the matter by way of question and answer, except to say that I think the House felt that both in the debate and outside this House my right hon. Friend has handled this matter with great confidence and skill.
§ Mr. StonehouseWas it not an extraordinary broadcast for the Conservative Party, in view of the fact that the Conservatives won the last election on a policy of opposing our going into E.E.C.? Is it now proposed that the 1355 Conservatives will fight the next election on a new mandate to go into E.E.C.? Is the Prime Minister going to have a General Election before committing us to this, or is he proposing to nominate the Colonial Secretary or some of the eminent ex-Ministers who sit on the benches behind him to speak against Britain coming into the Common Market?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that there is anything that I can add after the debate which we had.
§ Mr. BenceHas the right hon. Gentleman any information about' whether there was any opposition offered by the other five members of the Common Market to the proposal of the Italian Government to nationalise Italian electricity?
§ The Prime MinisterWe are getting into intricacies of Socialist planning which I cannot follow.