HC Deb 02 May 1967 vol 746 c295
24. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations have now been made to him by independent and dependent sugar-producing Commonwealth countries to safeguard their interests under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement in any negotiations for United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Bowden

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 25th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 247.]

Mr. Fisher

In any Common Market negotiations—which, I hope, will develop very soon—will the right hon. Gentleman always bear in mind that we have a moral responsibility for all of these territories—and direct responsibility still for some of them—and that many of them would become tropical slums almost overnight but for the benefits of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement or some equivalent of it?

Mr. Bowden

Yes, Sir. I am well aware, and so are my colleagues in the Government, of the importance of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, not only to Commonwealth countries but to some of the dependent territories as well; and, of course, this is one of the main problems that will have to be safeguarded if Her Majesty's Government decide to negotiate for entry.