HC Deb 08 February 1968 vol 758 cc652-3
Q8. Mr. Hooley

asked the Prime Minister what new diplomatic initiative he proposes to take towards setting on foot discussions for the development of a European Technological Community.

Mr. George Brown

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend on the 1st of February to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Faversham (Mr. Boston) and Newark (Mr. Bishop).—[Vol. 757, c. 404.]

Mr. Hooley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there are abundant opportunities for fruitful technological co-operation with other countries in Europe notwithstanding our failure to adhere to the Treaty of Rome? Will he not follow up the proposals which the Benelux countries have recently made in this respect?

Mr. Brown

When I was in Brussels last week I said that we accepted the Benelux proposals and commended them to everybody else. We are ready to follow up every kind of opening and every kind of opportunity, but it must be made quite clear that Europe will not really develop its technological potentialities while we remain shut out of the Treaty.

Sir C. Osborne

Was not this one of the baits dangled before Europe by the Prime Minister in an attempt to get General de Gaulle to accept us into the Common Market? Why has that bait failed to win over General de Gaulle?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman and I disagree about almost everything and we certainly disagree about this. If one considers what the Continent of Europe ought to be doing economically and politically, it is clear that we ought to develop our technological and productive capacity. That is what my right hon. Friend said and I believe to be true. It cannot be properly developed unless we become an integrated Continent, but, until we are an integrated Continent, there are many things which we can do. That is what my right hon. Friend said and that is what I am now trying to do.

Mr. Shinwell

Can my right hon. Fiend assure us that the trouble in Belgium and the fall of the Belgian Government have nothing to do with his visit last week?

Mr. Brown

I have every reason to believe that they have not.