§ Q4. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister whether he will in due course visit the Commonwealth countries most likely to be adversely affected by Great Britain joining the Common Market.
§ The Prime MinisterWe are in close touch with other Commonwealth Governments and will remain so throughout, either by correspondence or by personal visits, as may suit the various Governments concerned. But the purpose of our forthcoming exploratory discussions with the Heads of Government of the European Economic Community is of course to establish whether or not conditions exist for fruitful negotiations.
§ Mr. MartenOnce the Prime Minister has finished those visits to the Heads of Government of the Community and established whether essential Commonwealth interests can be safeguarded, would he at that point, if necessary, see the Commonwealth Prime Ministers before negotiating entry?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a very reasonable suggestion, that we should at any rate see those who are most intimately concerned. It does not affect the whole Commonwealth, but it may well be that, as a result of my right hon. Friend's considerations with the Governments, some or all of them might have been seen before we complete the round of meetings.
§ Q10. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will issue instructions to all the appropriate Government Departments to supply adequate factual information on the implications of joining the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime MinisterGovernment Departments are already glad to answer factual inquiries to the best of their ability. If my hon. Friend has any points in mind on which he would like information, perhaps he would let me know.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that there are so many Departments involved in this that it is very difficult to get a collective view in a convenient form? Would not he consider either asking each Department to publish its own separate White Paper on the implications, or, better still, I think, from the point of view of the House, asking the Government to produce a comprehensive pamphlet on the implications for each Department?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is very difficult, because until we know exactly what the terms and conditions are likely to be it is extremely difficult to make any calculation. I hazarded one calculation about the effect on our balance of payments and cost of living of the common agricultural I policy, but on very, very rigid assumptions about the present situation. It is very difficult indeed to have a whole series of separate pamphlets from different Departments, but we shall give as much information as we can if we are told what it is my hon. Friend wants supplied.
§ Mr. TurtonThere would be no difficulty in setting out in a White Paper all the relevant advantages and disadvantages at the present time. It would be very valuable to the country to have one as soon as possible.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. It was shown in our two-day debate that, in assessing the advantages and disadvantages, both sides rely very much more on qualitative than quantitative factors. I do not know any hon. Member, whatever view he takes, who does not rely on his own judgment, which cannot be proved by statistics, on the effect of the wider scale of the market. Whether they are those who believe in the cold douche theory, or those who believe that there will be a flood of imports, hon. Members are forming their own views on the qualitative aspect.
§ Mr. BellengerHas my right hon. Friend seen a statement on agriculture's position in relation to the Common Mar- 1150 ket? It would be impossible to test the accuracy of such statements which may affect our constituents unless we have access to the facts. That is what I gather is being asked of the Prime Minister—to publish some of the facts on which we can assess the value of these things.
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware of that publication. I take it that my right hon. Friend is referring to the publication of the National Farmers' Union, which has very considerable access to facts and a very fine statistical department. But there are many other industries concerned. Some industries have put out their estimates. Many organisations exist on both sides of the controversy doing very valuable education propaganda. As the House knows, the C.B.I., which has been into this very thoroughly and has great access to industrial information, will be presenting its own report, I think later this month.
§ Mr. KershawDoes the Prime Minister realise that the implications of his first supplementary answer were that he would insist on an alteration of the agricultural arrangements if we join the Common Market? Does he realise the full implications of that policy?
§ The Prime MinisterWe discussed the question of agricultural policy in the two-day debate. It does not arise from my first supplementary answer which referred to the cost to our balance of payments and the cost of living on present prices. It may well be that prices in the Community will change and they may fall. It is a fairly wide expectation that world prices will rise during that period. If this is so, the estimates which I gave of the cost on both counts will have been exaggerated.
§ Mr. HoosonIs there not an overwhelming case for the publication of a White Paper on the agricultural implications of joining the Common Market? Representing, as I do, an agricultural constituency, I can say that there is very much controversy in agricultural circles as to the precise effects of joining the Common Market and accepting its present agricultural policy.
§ The Prime MinisterI say this not in a critical sense, but that has not stopped the hon. and learned Gentleman 1151 from expressing a very strong view that it would be good for agriculture. He makes many speeches on that. That is what I meant when I said that hon. Members have had to rely and must rely much more on their assessment of the situation from talking to practical men than on any statistical estimate, which could be very remote from the facts.
On the question of agriculture, as on the question of industry, when we have had time to study both the N.F.U. document and the C.B.I. document we shall consider whether any further information would be useful.