HC Deb 02 May 1962 vol 658 cc1018-20
32. Sir C. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the complexity and volume of the statistics of exports and imports between the various Commonwealth countries, with the United Kingdom and with the European countries, respectively, published by the Commonwealth Economic Committee and in the statistical abstract, The Commonwealth and the Sterling Area, he will issue a White Paper giving these statistics in an abbreviated and easily read form; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Niall Macpherson)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the article in the Board of Trade Journal of 2nd March, which seems to give the information he requires.

Sir C. Osborne

This will not do. I put this Question down to the Lord Privy Seal, who is responsible for the Common Market negotiations, and I really require an Answer from him. May I ask my hon. Friend why, since the people of this country are worried about what the effect of joining the Common Market may be on Commonwealth trade, we cannot have a small four-page summary of the figures of Commonwealth trade, so that they can easily see how it will affect Commonwealth trade if we do join the Common Market? Why are the Government frightened of giving this information?

Mr. Macpherson

There is a large two-page summary in the Board of Trade Journal, which gives very adequate information, and which is probably quite as widely read as a White Paper would be.

Sir C. Osborne

If my hon. Friend thinks that the Board of Trade Journal is widely read, he ought to think again. It is not widely read. Why does he not tell me the answer to the question which I have asked six times of different Ministers? Why cannot we have a summary in the form of a White Paper, which millions of people can easily read and understand, showing what the effect of joining the Common Market would be on Commonwealth trade? Why cannot we have it?

Mr. Macpherson

I am not at all certain that millions of people do read White Papers. The information available is very fully used by the newspapers and by the journals of the banks and all the rest, which have wide circulations.

Sir J. Duncan

Is there any reason why my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) should not write this pamphlet himself?

Sir C. Osborne

If I were given the chance, I should do it a lot better.