§ Q7. Dr. Gilbertasked the Prime Minister what plans he has to seek to pay an official visit to Japan.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I told the House on 1st July, I have accepted in principle an invitation from the Japanese Government to visit Japan, but no specific plans have yet been made.
§ Dr. GilbertHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to recent Press reports to the effect that the United States Secretary of the Treasury, on his recent visit to Japan and in subsequent discussions in Washington, has put forward the idea of a Pacific free trade area to include the United States, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia? In the light of the support given by successive United States Administrations to this country's entry into the Common Market, will the right hon. Gentleman tell President Nixon on his next visit that he would support such a development in the Pacific?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot be expected to give undertakings of that kind at the moment. The discussions on a possible free trade area have been mentioned before. As far as we have been able to discover, they have never had any substance in them. Our policy on the European Economic Community has been settled by Parliament. However, I think that there is a general interest on both sides of the Atlantic and in Japan that 261 we should continue to work for the abolition of protectionist devices and for a general lowering of tariffs in the Western world.
§ Mr. Tom KingIs my right hon. Friend aware that, when he visits Japan, he will see how enormous are the opportunities for British exporters in that market and how too few British companies still follow up those opportunities?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that there is general agreement that there are tremendous opportunities for British exporters in Japan. Every encouragement is given to them by the Department of Trade and Industry—and was given by past Administrations through the Board of Trade—to go to Japan and seize those markets.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the Prime Minister aware that most of us do not care where he goes? What we want to know is when he is going.
§ The Prime MinisterAs has happened so often before, the hon. Gentleman will be disappointed.