§ Q1. Mr. Molloyasked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for liaison with Commonwealth countries in relation to the United Kingdom's negotiations to join the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has overall responsibility for our relations with Commonwealth countries. In addition, throughout the negotiations my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has kept in close touch with all Commonwealth Governments.
§ Mr. MolloyIs the Prime Minister aware that when his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy emerged from the tough talks and was described as tired and bleary-eyed but also as saying that he had broken the back of the negotiations, many people felt that he might have broken the back of the British Commonwealth of Nations? [HON. MEMBERS: "Rubbish !"] I know that this is not of much interest to the Conservative Party. In view of the seriousness of this situation, would the right hon. Gentleman confer with the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy to see whether, even at this stage, it is worth while calling a special conference of the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot accept the hon. Member's thesis. As I told the House before, if this country becomes a member of an enlarged Community by far the greater number of the Commonwealth countries will themselves have direct arrangements with that enlarged Community for their trade. As to the last part of the hon. Member's question, this matter was discussed at the last Commonwealth Conference in Singapore and I myself gave a full account of the negotiations. There was also a long discussion in which most Prime Ministers and Heads of Government took part. It is better that these things should be discussed with individual countries thereafter, because the problems of individual Commonwealth countries are so different.
§ Mr. BlakerHas the Foreign Secretary discussed with the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Canada the reason why, since the Community was founded, the exports of those countries to the Community have increased many times faster than their exports to this country?
§ The Prime MinisterThose facts are true. It has been characteristic of the members of the Commonwealth ever since 1947, with the development of the G.A.T.T., greatly to diversify their patterns of trade. This has obviously affected the proportions of their trade with this country as well as with other members of the Commonwealth, and has increased their proportion of trade with the E.E.C.