HC Deb 11 July 1966 vol 731 cc963-5
50. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Western European Union; and to what extent it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to accept its recommendations.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. George Thomson)

Her Majesty's Government value their membership of Western European Union as the organisation fulfilling the purposes of the Revised Brussels Treaty of 1954. The Western European Union Assembly's recommendations are considered by the Western European Union Council so that replies agreed between the seven member Governments can be returned to the Assembly.

Mr. Shinwell

Will my right hon. Friend explain why the British representatives to this Assembly are not elected by democratic process but represent only themselves, particularly when they indulge in frantic efforts to push the United Kingdom into the Common Market?

Mr. Thomson

I am no more responsible—nor are Her Majesty's Government—for the delegation to the Western European Union Assembly than I am for the views of hon. Members on either side of the House.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

As one of the non-democratically non-elected members of the Assembly, may I ask the Chancellor of the Duchy to make the greatest possible use of this Assembly, since this Assembly and this Union is the only place where the Six and Britain can work together?

Mr. Thomson

Yes, Sir. Her Majesty's Government very much value the work of the W.E.U. Assembly, and its recommendations are very carefully considered. The difficulty is that its recommendations have to be dealt with on a basis of unanimity by the W.E.U. Council. Although Her Majesty's Government are sometimes sympathetic, we have to operate according to unanimity rules.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I do not want the right hon. Gentleman to mislead his right hon. Friend. Is it not a fact that the delegates to the W.E.U. are appointed by the Prime Minister?

Mr. Thomson

I apologise to my right hon. Friend if I have misled him in this matter. What I intended to convey was that once appointed by the Prime Minister formally their opinions are as independent in the W.E.U. Assembly as they are in this House.

Mr. Shinwell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that no matter who appoints them they are not elected by democratic process and that for the most part, to judge from what I have read of their deliberations, they talk a lot of poppycock?