European Economic Community (Hansard, 13 December 1971)

§ 2. Sir J. Rodgers
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to invite the enlarged European Economic Community to have its European Parliament headquarters in London with buildings donated by the British Government.

§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)
None, Sir.

§ Sir J. Rodgers
May I first congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend on the successful outcome of his recent negotiations? While thanking him for his answer, as far as it goes, may I ask him whether he does not agree that it is right and proper that the institutions connected with the Common Market should be situated in the capitals of the Common Market countries and whether he also agrees that a disproportionate, if not monopolistic, position has been attained by the capitals of the Six in terms of the headquarters of other international organisations such as U.N.E.S.C.O., O.E.C.D., N.A.T.O., F.A.O., etc., and that it is time that Britain showed her Europeanisation by offering to provide a building for the enlarged European Parliament? Can my right hon. and learned Friend assure the House that, if he is requested by the European parliamentarians, he will make that generous and sensible gesture?

§ Mr. Rippon
At present, the sessions of the Parliament are divided between Strasbourg and Luxembourg. These arrangements appear satisfactory to the present members of that Parliament. I am sure that we do not want to disturb existing arrangements which are working satisfactorily. When we are a member of the Community, I hope that the Community may feel that some of its institutions might be sited here. But that is all a matter for the future and a matter for general agreement.

§ Mr. Cronin
I hope that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will not take too seriously the congratulations of the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Sir J. Rodgers) on his recent negotiations. Will he accept that a large proportion of the fishing community feels that it has been sold out?

§ Mr. Rippon
I hope to make a statement on that later and to satisfy the hon. Gentleman that no one has been sold out.

§ 3. Mr. Marten
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to sign the Treaty of Accession to the Common Market.

§ Mr. Rippon
We hope the necessary preparations will be completed in order that the Treaty may be signed in the middle of January.

§ Mr. Marten
As the vote on 28th October was taken subject to the agreement on fisheries, if any, can my right hon. and learned Friend assure us that the Treaty of Accession will not be signed until the fisheries agreement has been debated and voted upon in this House? In replying, I hope that my right hon. and learned Friend will not say that this is a matter for the Leader of the House, because I am asking about the signing of the Treaty of Accession.

§ Mr. Rippon
We have, as I have to report to the House later, reached a satisfactory settlement on the fisheries problem acceptable to ourselves, to Denmark and to the Republic of Ireland. In these circumstances we are going ahead with the preparations for signing the Treaty.

§ Mr. Healey
I appreciate that we shall be discussing the statement by the right hon. and learned Gentleman at the end of Questions, but taking up his hon. Friend's point, he will recall that he gave the House certain assurances on 25th October regarding the situation concerning fisheries. These assurances have not been met by the agreement which he reached on Saturday with members of the Six. That being the case, will he not agree that the House must have an opportunity to discuss and debate the fisheries agreement before the Government sign the Treaty of Accession?

§ Mr. Rippon
I had hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would wait to hear 5 what the agreement was before deciding that it was unsatisfactory in any respect. However, if he listens to my statement, and then recalls what I told the House were our objectives after my statements on 11th November and 1st December, he will see that we have reached an agreement fully in accord with those statements.

§ 23. Mr. Milne
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude and policy in relation to entry into the European Economic Community arising from the latest negotiations, in particular stating what common attitudes were taken together with Norway and Denmark on fisheries and on the future of European Free Trade Association.

§ Mr. Rippon
I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which, with permission, I shall make later today on the weekend's discussions in Brussels.

§ Mr. Milne
While I will certainly await the right hon. and learned Gentleman's statement on the fishery negotiations with interest, may I point out that my Question also referred to the future of the European Free Trade Association and that we are entitled to a reply on that point?

§ Mr. Rippon
There is no problem about that in the context of the negotiations we have had on fisheries regulations. The position as to the E.F.T.A. negotiations are as I have repeatedly stated in the House.

§ Mr. Speaker
Mr. Robert Edwards—next Question.

§ Mr. Milne
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that by—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I have not called the hon. Member for a second supplementary.

§ 46. Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement of his most recent discussions on the fishing grounds dispute in the European Economic Community.

§ 48. Mr. James Johnson
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position in the continuing discussions with the 6 European Economic Community regarding their common fisheries policy; what co-operation he is now pursuing with other applicants and with Norway in particular in this matter; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Rippon
I would ask the hon. Members to await the statement which I shall, with permission, make later this afternoon.

§ 4. Mr. St. John-Stevas
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of British negotiations to join the European Economic Community.

§ Mr. Rippon
I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which, with permission, I shall make later today on the weekend's discussions in Brussels.

§ Mr. St. John-Stevas
Trusting to your benevolence, Mr. Speaker, I shall take that course.