§ Q6. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister what plans he has, following his discussions with President Johnson about the state of the British economy, to hold similar discussions with the Heads of Government of the Common Market countries.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir. There are regular opportunities for Ministerial and official exchanges with the Governments of the Six about our respective economic problems.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree, in view of the position of the dollar, that at present the United States is not in a position to retain the safety net under the pound single-handed? Would he further agree that it is important that the Governments of Western Europe should be brought in on these consultations and that it cannot very well be left to the delicate handling of the Foreign Secretary?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman suggests that the dollar holds a safety net under the pound. That is an inaccurate way of putting it. The pound and the dollar have both been under recent attack and must work together as far as possible. There is no question of the dollar putting a safety net under the pound and the hon. Gentleman's questions are not particularly helpful.
1882 As for consultations with European countries, and not only the Common Market countries, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that, at the recent conference at The Hague, Finance Ministers of the Group of Ten and central bankers had full discussion of all our mutual problems and strongly expressed support of the Government's action and confidence that it will be successful.
§ Mr. FarrDuring the Prime Minister's discussions with President Johnson, was the question of Gibraltar raised at all?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir—not at all.
§ Mr. Gwilym RobertsIs my right hon. Friend aware that, unlike the Opposition, we on this side of the House believe in the sovereignty of the British Government and are not over-anxious to tie ourselves to the shoe laces of Germany, France or anyone else?
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware that that is the position of my hon. Friend, as it is the position of the Government. It is a more robust attitude than that of right hon. and hon. Members opposite, who think that they will solve our problems by points of order or debates on the adjournment on issues on which they showed such little robustness—I am thinking particularly of Spain—when they were in Government.