HC Deb 22 March 1962 vol 656 cc561-3
Q3. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his talks with the Australian Minister for Trade and Deputy Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister

During Mr. McEwen's recent visit to this country I had a talk with him but this was confidential

Mr. Healey

In view of the growing concern on both sides of the House about the possible impact of our negotiations on the solidarity of the Commonwealth, can the Prime Minister assure the House that there is now total agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Australia about the minimum conditions which would be found acceptable for British entry and also whether there is agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Australian Government on how to seek Australian representation in the negotiations with the Six?

The Prime Minister

The second question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal; it is a matter of procedure. With regard to the first part of the question, we are in close consultation with them and there is broad agreement—certainly there is close agreement—as to what it is that we should seek. Whether we can get what we want, nobody knows. We are not in that stage of the negotiations. We are in the earlier stages, where the object of the Ministers has been to get a broad picture of the situation, and we shall come eventually to the real crunch of the negotiations.

Mr. S. Silverman

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain whether the Home Secretary's multifarious overlordship responsibilities include Australia, too, in this matter of the Common Market? Does he not realise that if they extend so far there is bound to be dereliction of duty about some important matters of policy? It is true, is it not, that the House has had no opportunity whatever of discussing civil defence for five years?

Mr. Speaker

None of this arises out of the Question. Sir Cyril Osborne.

Sir C. Osborne

In view of the growing opposition in many parts of the country to our entry into the Common Market—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I am not supporting it; I am only stating the case—will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister consider setting out clearly, so that the ordinary people can understand, what will be our position with the Commonwealth, how far the Commonwealth is prepared to offer a Common Market if we do not join, and what is the real alternative?

Mr. Speaker

Order. All that the Question is about is discussions with an Australian Minister.

Mr. Stonehouse

In his discussions with the Australian Ministers and with the other Commonwealth Ministers about Britain's application to join the E.E.C., has the Prime Minister given any undertaking about the Commonwealth countries being directly represented in the current negotiations?

The Prime Minister

The discussions that I had with Mr. McEwen were confidential. If they were not to be confidential these and all similar discussions would be valueless.

Sir C. Osborne

On a point of order. May I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker? I do not quite understand why you ruled my supplementary question out of order when all the others were allowed to be answered by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Speaker

I ruled the hon. Gentleman out of order because I thought his question was a different one from the topic that was dealt with in the matter on the Paper. If that was wrong, I am sorry, but that was what I thought.

Mr. Silverman

While it is no doubt difficult to keep the margins clear in a doubtful case, where the Prime Minister is prepared to answer ought the House to be deprived of that answer because of your own view of the matter, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker

I am often seduced by the ingenious words of hon. Members into allowing discussion to go wider than the rules of the House allow, and then I get into trouble with the House for allowing too little progress in Questions. So I incur displeasure both ways.