HC Deb 01 July 1969 vol 786 c229
27. Mr. Henig

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange an early meeting with M. Giscard d'Estaing.

Mr. Taverne

My right hon. Friend is looking forward to meeting M. Giscard d'Estaing when a suitable occasion arises. It is as yet too early to say when this might be.

Mr. Henig

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that constructive and helpful reply. When this meeting takes place, will the Chancellor place high on the agenda the question of the current international monetary system and see if it is possible for Britain and France to devise a common approach to these problems? Will he also examine with his French opposite number the possibility of moving towards some form of common European currency?

Mr. Taverne

Of course all these considerations will be very much in my right hon. Friend's mind when in due course they meet.

Mr. Marten

Will the Chancellor at this meeting make clear to the French Minister that the calculations that we would have to pay across the exchanges to the common agricultural pool under the new scheme for agriculture they are now working out are estimated fairly objectively to be of the order of £700 million and that is something which this country cannot afford? Will he discuss this with the French Minister?

Mr. Taverne

I cannot anticipate the exact form the discussions will take. This matter is very much in the mind of the Government and one has to wait to see how the common agricultural policy works out.