§ 40. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of increasing British commercial, technical and cultural links with the Common Market, he will approach the President of the European Community with a view to arranging more frequent visits by Members of Parliament to the offices of the European Community in Brussels.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Walter Padley)It is primarily for hon. Members to make their own arrangements to visit the European Economic Community at Brussels. I believe that the European Economic Community Commission would welcome any Members who wish to visit the headquarters of the Community, and I shall consider whether anything could be done to encourage such visits.
§ Mr. GriffithsI thank the Minister of State for that reply. Will he do his utmost to ensure that as far as possible large numbers of Members of this House and of other legislatures in Western Europe are able to meet more frequently to discuss this important matter?
§ Mr. PadleyThe members of the European Parliament are members of their national legislatures, and through the I.P.U. and other organisations there is a good deal of interchange. There is also an overlap between the membership of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union. Therefore, I think I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance he asks for.