§ Q5. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if the public statements made by the Lord Privy Seal concerning the resumption of negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the Common Market during an authorised interview published by the French newspaper,Le Monde,on 28th March represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Q6. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether the public statements of the Lord Privy Seal, made during an authorised interview published by the French newspaper,Le Monde,on 28th March to the effect that discussions with the Six about Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community should continue, represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Q7. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Prime Minister if the public statements made during an authorised interview by the Lord Privy Seal published in the French newspaper,Le Monde,on 28th March on the British Government's attitude towards the European Economic Community represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterThe report in Le Monde was a summary of an interview given to the publication Opera Mundi in which my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal said that there should be constant consultation between Britain and the Community. That is the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. SwinglerHas not the Prime Minister read the latter part of the remarks by the Lord Privy Seal? Did not the Lord Privy Seal imply in answer to questions as published in The Times on 28th March, that it was still the Government's intention to get the Rome Treaty ratified by this Parliament before the next General Election and that one of the reasons for doing so was to try to commit the Labour Party before it came to power?
§ The Prime MinisterI have the text of the French interview. If it is of any value I will circulate it.
§ Mr. ZilliacusEven if the Lord Privy Seal still believes in winning the European stakes by flogging a dead horse, may ask whether the Prime Minister will give an assurance that the Government will not attempt in their last few months of office any renewal in any form of negotiations for entry into the Common Market?
§ The Prime MinisterThe formal state is this—the chairman of the Brussels negotiations said on 29th January that he was forced to record the fact with great regret that a number of States of the Community were prevented from continuing the negotiations.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that whatever opinions some British people may have had about entry into the Common Market we now deprecate the fact that, despite the action of the French and others, the British Government, according to the Opera Mundi report, are still attempting to enter the Common Market before the General Election? Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the British public will have a chance at the General Election of deciding this matter first and foremost?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat my right hon. Friend said was that we were keeping in close touch with them, and this is necessary for many purposes, including, for instance, the next Kennedy Round.
§ Mr. DribergDid the Prime Minister say just now, or did we mishear him, "if the remarks of the Lord Privy Seal are of any value"? Is not that a rather ominous remark?
§ The Prime MinisterI said, "if they were of any value" in relation to the Question. That is what I meant. I have read this report as closely as I can but I cannot find this point. I will look at the report again. It is very long.