HC Deb 14 June 1967 vol 748 cc537-8
21. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to renegotiate long-term agreements with Commonwealth foodstuffs exporting countries governing access to the United Kingdom market, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision to apply for membership of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Jay

No question of need to renegotiate anything arises at the present time.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

But would the President of the Board of Trade agree that some of these agreements last into the 1970s? Does his reply indicate that he does not think that there is a chance of the Government's succeeding in their application to join the Common Market, or is he merely trying to see that they do not succeed?

Mr. Jay

My answer implies no more than it said. I have several times discussed this problem with my colleagues in the Australian Government and they have agreed that until the Kennedy Round negotiations reach a conclusion, as they have, and the application by the United Kingdom to join the E.E.C. has been considered, there is nothing to be gained in our renegotiating the agreements with Australia. But when both these uncertainties have been removed, we shall be able to proceed to make further arrangements.