HC Deb 13 May 1971 vol 817 cc618-20
Q6. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Prime Minister if he will now invite the President of France to visit London, or, alternatively, if he will seek an early opportunity to visit the President in Paris.

The Prime Minister

I look forward to meeting President Pompidou in Paris on 20th and 21st May.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

I am sure all Members on all sides will wish god-speed to my right hon. Friend on a mission which could be of decisive importance for the future of Western Europe for the next 50 years. Will he take the occasion to point out to the President of France that the achievement of a European Europe must lie in the enlargement of the Community and that if the present negotiations were by any disaster allowed to fail, hopes of achieving independence for Western Europe in political, commercial and military matters might be put off for a decade or even for good?

The Prime Minister

I think I know what my hon. Friend meant. I hope that he also wishes me a fair voyage and a happy return. On his general thesis, we are in agreement.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Leaving aside the religious fervour of the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), will the Prime Minister put it to the President of France that vague assurances about Commonwealth sugar are no substitute for guaranteed and quantified access? Is he aware that in this House, as outside it, there is a growing sense of being betrayed?

The Prime Minister

I cannot agree with the last sentence of the hon. Gentleman's remarks. What is important is that when the Community gives firm assurances we ourselves will be able to implement these as a member—

Mr. John Mendelson

Too late.

The Prime Minister

It is not in any way too late because the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement runs until 1974 by which time, if the negotiations are successful, we shall have been a member of the Community for more than a year. Therefore, this is the most firm assurance which we ourselves will be in a position to implement.

Mr. Adley

When the Prime Minister meets the President of France, will he ask whether he enjoyed his flight in Concorde?

The Prime Minister

I am quite prepared to discuss the future of Concorde with the President.

Mr. Harold Wilson

Although the House has not had a chance to study what has come out of Brussels and has not had a report from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is the Prime Minister saying that his interpretation of the Brussels undertaking—that the Community will look at the matter with a "full heart", or whatever the phrase was—means that we can insist that the 1974 arrangements be continued? But would such continuance be subject to veto by any one country?

The Prime Minister

I think the right hon. Gentleman has not been exact in his quotation of the phrase used, but my right hon. and learned Friend will be reporting fully to the House on Monday and will give all the details. I am saying that we shall have our full rights in the Community. This would include the right of veto in the last resort. Obviously, sugar would then be a matter for negotiation within the Community, not only in relation to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement but also to associated States which have sugar interests. We ourselves negotiated on a "rolling basis" up to 1974, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, because the previous Administration concluded the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. The Agreement has always been a matter of negotiation between ourselves and the countries concerned which are members of it; and in future, too, sugar will be a matter for negotiation

Mr. Harold Wilson

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman misheard me when I referred to a veto. I was not concerned whether Britain would have a veto, but if it is a question of continuing arrangements beyond 1974, with the assent that is required of the Six, would any one country of the Six or of the enlarged Community be able to veto any proposal we made to extend the arrangements?

The Prime Minister

The Community itself has given this undertaking that the arrangements will be made. This is the purpose of the undertaking. In any case, my right hon. Friend is under an obligation to consult the sugar-producing countries about the undertaking he received.