HC Deb 10 June 1969 vol 784 cc1224-5
Q1. Mr. Marten

asked the Prime Minister which of the countries of the Common Market he proposes to visit this year.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have no immediate plans to visit any of the Common Market countries.

Mr. Marten

Before the Prime Minister makes any visits or reopens negotiations with the Common Market, will he see that there are published, for the benefit of the country as a whole, economic studies of the effect of Britain joining the Common Market? Would not it be absolute folly to start negotiations from the position of economic weakness in which we are now?

The Prime Minister

I see no reason in present circumstances to change the general estimates given to the House during the major three-day debate on the Common Market two years ago, but certainly before any final decision is taken to enter into negotiations—and that depends not on us but on others—we would wish to inform the House and consider in those circumstances what further information should be sought.

Mr. Raphael Tuck

If my right hon. Friend reopens negotiations, will he reiterate his pledge by making it clear that Great Britain would not agree to join a Federal Europe? Is not the membership of the Foreign Secretary of a Committee called European Committee inconsistent with that pledge?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. As we have all said many times, and certainly in the debate to which I have referred, there is no immediate prospect for a long time to come of that development occurring. Joining the Communities would not involve any action of that kind. We would, of course, be required—and this we have said we are prepared to do—to accept the obligations, including the political obligations, of joining the Common Market, but they do not include either a federation or any military involvement.