HC Deb 30 November 1967 vol 755 cc634-5
Q1. Mr. Roebuck

asked the Prime Minister whether a date has yet been fixed for the start of negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the European Economic Community.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

No, Sir.

Mr. Roebuck

Is not that a rather disappointing reply in view of the fact that we were promised that this application would be pursued with pace and momentum? Does the Prime Minister feel no sense of shame at having entered into an alliance with the Leader of the Opposition which has resulted in making Britannia the beggar woman of Europe? Will he now withdraw the application.

The Prime Minister

There was no alliance. A decision was made by Her Majesty's Government and it was supported by the Opposition—which, of course, they had a full right to do. The House as a whole, by a very large majority, supported the application. I explained on Tuesday why we were not withdrawing it.