HC Deb 10 March 1970 vol 797 cc1112-3
Q2. Mr. David Howell

asked the Prime Minister what interdepartmental studies are being initiated by the Civil Service Department with a view to assessing the demands which will be placed on the country's administration in the event of Great Britain's membership of the European Economic Community.

The Prime Minister

This matter is kept under continuing review by the Civil Service Department, in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

Mr. Howell

Does this continuing review include organising consultations between the Treasury and the Ministry of Agriculture about going over to an agricultural levying system which, as the Prime Minister knows, is a precondition for negotiating on the Treaty of Rome?

The Prime Minister

That matter is dealt with in the White Paper. Where I have had differences with right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite is in relation to their mad desire to do this whether or not we go into the Common Market.

Mr. Heffer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many hon. Members on this side of the House who up to now have been ardent advocates of entry into the Common Market, but who, if it means accepting the agricultural system of the Six as it stands, without any modification, could not possibly accept entry into the E.E.C. on those terms?

The Prime Minister

The countries of the Six are continually looking at their own system, and it is impossible at this stage to forecast what level of prices or of surpluses there would be within the Six by the time British entry became effective. Most of us in the debate in the House, whatever view we took on the general issue or on the White Paper, felt that the question of British entry must depend on the terms which emerged from the negotiations, including—and most of us thought that this was the single, most important question—the question of the agricultural financing arrangements.