HC Deb 16 June 1964 vol 696 cc1107-9
Q2. Mr. Storehouse

asked the Prime Minister if the official statement of the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development on 28th May to Opera Mundi on the political aspects of Great Britain's relations with the Common Market represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Q4. Mr. BIyton

asked the Prime Minister if the official statement of the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development to Opera Mundi on 28th May on Britain's political policy with regard to the Common Market represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Mr. BIyton

Is the Prime Minister aware that the statement made still shows that the Government are hankering after the Common Market? Does he not think it ought to be a General Election issue so that the people can decide whether our economy is to be handed over to Europe to decide for us and whether it will shatter our Commonwealth and our agriculture? The Labour Party has determined its situation. Can we know where the Prime Minister stands?

The Prime Minister

We have always believed that a wider political and economic unity in Europe was good for our own country, for Europe and for the Atlantic Alliance, but there is no issue before us now, and, therefore, I think that this is not a General Election issue.

Mr. Grimond

Is it not apparent from the Questions and Answers and also from Answers given by the Foreign Secretary in this House on 3rd February that Her Majesty's Government do not intend to take any political initiative in Europe?

The Prime Minister

At the moment I think that the right hon. Gentleman is perfectly aware what the position is. The Six have formed their own association. We are trying to keep as close to them as we can, because we do not want policies necessarily to diverge. As to the future, I cannot state what circumstances will arise, and, therefore, I am not going to make hypothetical guesses.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Common Market is the biggest importer in the world and the biggest trading group? Is it not, therefore, madness to stick our heads in the sand and ignore it altogether?

The Prime Minister

I agree with my hon. Friend. As I have said, we are trying to see that our policies do not diverge. We want to make the most of the opportunities in this great market.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for this not to be an election issue means an assumption that it is not likely to come up in the next Parliament? In this Parliament terms were put forward by the Secretary of State for Industry and Trade for British entry into the Common Market which were in direct contradiction to pledges given by the Government before the last election. I am quite prepared to send the Prime Minister copies of those pledges if he does not know them. In view of all this, will he give an undertaking that, as long as he is in charge of affairs, there will be no question of entry into the Common Market on the conditions negotiated by the Secretary of State for Industry and Trade in Brussels before the intervention of President de Gaulle?

The Prime Minister

I cannot say whether this issue will arise in the next Parliament. I have already told the House many times that, if it did, we should seek a new mandate from Parliament. It would be an entirely new situation.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the Prime Minister aware that he is being less than frank on this very important issue and that the electorate, as well as Parliament, before the election will want to know where he stands? The Secretary of State for Industry and Trade gave a most important interview with Opera Mundi. Why did he do so and not the Foreign Secretary?

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Secretary of State, in a very long interview, at no stage referred to the Commonwealth or to protection for the Commonwealth? Does the Prime Minister agree with that? Furthermore, does the Prime Minister agree with the reply that the Foreign Secretary gave yesterday when he said, in reply to a question, that he was not prepared to set out the conditions under which Britain's entry into the Common Market would be renegotiated?

The Prime Minister

I have just said that we are not prepared to set out conditions under which British entry could he renegotiated, because we do not know what the circumstances will be or, indeed, whether this issue will come up again. I am perfectly content to leave this to the judgment of the electors as between the party opposite and the Government on this matter.

Mr. H. Wilson

So that the electors can judge by knowing what both parties stand for, and since we have stated quite clearly our five conditions for British entry, and since the Prime Minister two weeks ago said that he did not accept those conditions, will he tell us which of them he is opposed to?

The Prime Minister

I will have to refresh my memory about what I said on that occasion. However, I have the five conditions here. They are very broad principles and if—I trust that it will never be so—the right hon. Gentleman were ever in a position to pursue negotiations he could not rest on them.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We simply must make some progress.