§ 3. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subjects about which the President of France suggested that Britain should initiate bilateral Anglo-French discussions during the course of his meeting with the British Ambassador on 4th February.
§ 10. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to initiate discussions with France to promote the co-operation of European nation-States in evolving common political, military and economic arrangements.
§ 13. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs why the member countries of the European Free Trade Association were not informed of General de Gaulle's offer of talks on the future of Western Europe.
§ Mr. StewartThese matters were very fully discussed in the House on 24th and 25th February, and both I and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister have since replied to Questions about them on a number of occasions. I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 778, c. 1088–1107, 1337–48.]
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThe right hon. Gentleman seemed to imply on those occasions that the French President had suggested a British initiative of discussions on all the ideas that he had suggested. Is it not a fact that the President's suggestion for a British initiative related exclusively to bilateral discussions with this country, and was not 1018 that wholly understandable in view of the lack of interest which the Foreign Office has always displayed in such bilateral discussions?
§ Mr. StewartNo, Sir. The idea was that we should initiate talks which would concern economic, monetary, political, and defence matters, and at the same time as this suggestion was made there was an expression of views on matters which clearly concerned our allies in Western Europe.
§ Mr. BiffenWith reference to Question No. 10, would the Foreign Secretary agree that our contribution would very much more match British temperament and institutions if we conducted the much desired friendly and closer relations with Europe within the framework of nation States rather than by signing the much more tightly drawn Treaty of Rome?
§ Mr. StewartNo, Sir. This is a matter which will probably come up in the debate. The policy of Her Majesty's Government, with the support of the three major political parties in this country, is to maintain our application to join the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. SpeakerMrs. Renée Short, whose Question has been answered with this one—Mr. Winnick, Question No. 4.
Later—
§ Mr. SpeakerSir Gerald Nabarro, Question No. 14.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortOn a point of order. Did I understand you to say, Mr. Speaker, that my Question 13 was for some extraordinary reason linked with Question No. 3?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot comment on whether the reason was extraordinary. The Question was, however, answered.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortFurther to that point of order. Is it not usual for reasonable Government Departments to advise Members when their Questions are being linked?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is something the hon. Lady must take up with the Minister concerned.