HC Deb 21 January 1971 vol 809 cc1268-9
Q4. Mr. Marten

asked the Prime Minister whether during the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, he discussed with the Australian Prime Minister the effect upon Australia of Great Britain entering the Common Market.

Q9. Mr. Wall

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

Mr. Maudling

I have been asked to reply.

I would ask my hon. Friends to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making on his return.

Mr. Marten

In the meantime, is my right hon. Friend aware that the proposals which the Government have put to the Common Market about phasing out Australia from the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement were greeted with absolute dismay in Australia, not only because of the effect on Queensland but because of the effect on the world sugar market system, particularly the International Sugar Agreement? Will my right hon. Friend look at the matter again?

Mr. Maudling

It would be quite wrong to deal with these important matters in Question and Answer when they are entirely germane to the two-day debate which is taking place.

Mr. Russell Kerr

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the dismay described by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) is likely to turn into a marked political antipathy resulting in severe commercial disadvantages to this country?

Mr. Maudling

Once again, I think that these considerations fall very much within the ambit of the debate now taking place.