§ Q6. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to coordinate the work of Her Majesty's Ministers in devising alternative plans for Great Britain's economic relations with the Commonwealth, the European Free Trade Association countries and the rest of the world in the event of Great Britain not joining the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to the hon. Gentleman on 6th November.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Prime Minister aware that that reply rather facetiously said that the Minister concerned did not want to be diverted from the negotiations in which he was engaged? Even within the context of those negotiations, 196 is it not important to know what the alternatives are? If Lord Boothby is proved right, as, no doubt, he will be, is it not important for the sake of Britain that the alternatives should be worked out?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course, I hope that the economic and other ties with the Commonwealth will continue to develop, as I have no doubt they will, quite apart from what will be the final decision about the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhy was the reply of the Lord Privy Seal last week so evasive? If the Prime Minister is correct in what he now says, why did the Lord Privy Seal give me that evasive reply?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman asked this Question. I think that the Lord Privy Seal gave a perfectly practical reply, but I add to that that all the developments with the Commonwealth will go on and, I think, may in fact be enhanced if we are able to make satisfactory arrangements for the Community.
§ Q7. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister what further consultations he is proposing to have with Commonwealth Prime Ministers before agreeing to Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.
§ The Prime MinisterThe final communiqué issued after the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting in September recorded that
The British Government undertook to continue to arrange for the closest consultations with other Commonwealth Governments during the remainder of their negotiations with the European Economic Community.This undertaking is, naturally, being fulfilled and will include, when necessary, direct communications between other Commonwealth Prime Ministers and myself.
§ Mr. StonehouseAre direct communications enough? If all the Prime Ministers except two or three are opposed to Britain going into the Common Market on the terms which have so far been negotiated, is it not important that there should be a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' conference when the final terms are known?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is another matter. What we agreed upon in the communiqué we are carrying out faithfully. Since all the Commonwealth countries have representatives at Brussels and since there are almost daily communications with the High Commissioners, we have always, from the start of the negotiations, carried it out. We shall continue to do so.