§ Q6. Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister if he will now give an assurance that, in negotiations to join the Common Market, he will accept the principles of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the foreign affairs debate on 11th July.
§ Mr. RidleyWould the Prime Minister confirm that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to apply for membership of the E.E.C.? Would he not further agree that the recent agricultural agreement in Brussels makes it imperative that the right hon. Gentleman accepts that agricultural policy if he is to achieve his own policy in this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterI certainly confirm that it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government to join the Economic Community if we can get satisfactory conditions to ensure British and Commonwealth interests. I am not so defeatist as the hon. Gentleman to think that all decisions made in the Community are immutable and incapable of taking into account British interests.
§ Mr. AndersonSince my right hon. Friend's reply on 20th July to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery 1893 (Mr. Hooson), the Minister of Agriculture has said that there could be no White Paper on the agricultural implications for the United Kingdom of our accession to the Common Market. Would my right hon. Friend reconsider the publication of a White Paper in the light of this agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that my right hon. Friend had good reasons for saying that it is difficult, in a White Paper or in any other way, to make precise calculations. It is a fact that since target prices have now been fixed for a number of additional agricultural commodities, and not just for cereals and a few others, it might be possible to begin to make some calculation of the effect on the cost of living in this country and on our import bill of being forced to accept prices at that level and to impose corresponding levies on imports of Commonwealth produce. Whether it is possible to make really worth-while calculations I should like to examine further.
§ Mr. KershawDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of moving our agricultural policy somewhat in line with the Six so that eventually the transition may be made easier?
§ The Prime MinisterI think the right thing for this country is that we should continue to pursue an agricultural policy which is right for our own agriculture and trade in foodstuffs. Of course, if and when negotiations become possible with the Economic Community, the question of what changes will be needed in our agricultural or other policy is a matter about which we will have to negotiate and then put into effect.
§ Mr. MolloyWould my right hon. Friend confirm that the sensible probings which this Government have initiated in regard to Britain's possible entry into Europe go much further than the narrow sphere of the E.E.C.?
§ The Prime MinisterThe probings which are taking place with E.E.C. countries of course relate principally to the position of Britain and other E.F.T.A. countries in relation to the E.E.C. But, as my lion. Friend knows—he may have this in mind—we are in constant touch with EF.T.A. about further developments within E.F.T.A.