HC Deb 05 August 1971 vol 822 cc1842-3
Q4. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consult the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand on measures and machinery to strengthen their ties with the United Kingdom and Western Europe.

The Prime Minister

I do not think that new measures or machinery are needed to ensure that our ties with Canada, Australia and New Zealand remain strong. We believe that the Commonwealth will benefit from the greater strength which membership of an enlarged Community will bring to Britain, as well as from closer links with Western Europe as a whole.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Knowing Australia as he does, was not my right hon. Friend saddened by the appearance of a breach arising from misunderstandings over the Brussels negotiations? Does he consider that it would be desirable to meet the Australian Prime Minister to restore the proper relationship? Since these nations mentioned in my Question are European nations, would it not be the intention of the Government of the United Kingdom in Europe to forge and retain the economic links and not to abandon the advantages we can get to the Americans and the Japanese?

The Prime Minister

I agree with the statement in the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. He asked about a meeting with the Prime Ministers. The Prime Minister of New Zealand has been here recently, and we had very full talks about the European question. The Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia both know that they would be very welcome in this country. The Australian Prime Minister has not been able to fix the date at which he will be able to come. I hope it will be possible for the Canadian Prime Minister to visit this country.

Mr. Whitehead

If such consultations were to take place, would the Prime Minister draw the attention of the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand to the very great success of the Canadian Government in the diversification of exports which meant that imports from Canada to this country, which were a serious problem in the 1962 negotiations, were a negligible problem in 1971?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member is right. I think that credit must also be given to New Zealand because the latest figures show a very considerable diversification of markets by New Zealand, too.