European Economic Community (Hansard, 18 October 1971)

§ 3. Mr. McBride
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make available to hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies all relevant reports and information as to how Wales will be 344 affected should Great Britain enter the European Economic Community.

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
A considerable volume of analysis and assessment has already been published. I would in particular draw the attention of the hon. Member to the Welsh Council's Report on "Wales and the Common Market".

§ Mr. McBride
Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Report of the Welsh Council is not a recommendation for entry on the terms suggested? Does not his refusal to give the people of Wales the known facts emphasise his dereliction of duty, particularly as a vote on accession is imminent? Why this suppression of fact? Why should not the people of Wales be given the facts which are in the hands of the right hon. and learned Gentleman, following reports from his officials after visiting Brussels?

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
The people of Wales have been told. I have made statements in Wales on this very subject during the Recess. The message of the Report of the Welsh Council is perfectly clear: it is that on the whole entry would be advantageous to Wales.

§ 13. Mr. Probert
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take on the report of the Chairman of the Welsh Council of his discussions on regional policy matters with officials of the Commission and others in Brussels.

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
The Welsh Council Report on "Wales and the Common Market" takes into account the information which the Chairman of the Council obtained during his recent visit to the Commission. I welcome the Council's Report and will ensure that its recommendations are kept to the forefront in future work on E.E.C. entry.

§ Mr. Probert
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that, far from being reassured, one of our main concerns about possible entry into the European Economic Community is that the Report indicates two points clearly? First, despite what we have been told, there is no such policy extant at present and, secondly, a policy is being evolved which will ensure that no member country will have complete independence of action on this matter.

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
The report, which dealt with many of the matters which are of concern to the people of Wales, indicated that concern should not be felt, and that entry into the E.E.C. would be advantageous to Wales.

§ Sir A. Meyer
Does not my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the more information that comes to light about the likely Community regional policy and its effect on Wales, the more certain it becomes that entry into the E.E.C. will confer great benefit on Wales?

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
That is certainly the view of reports which I have read from the C.B.I. in Wales, the National Farmers' Union in Wales and many other bodies.

§ Mr. Hooson
Is it the Government's intention that this document should be debated in the Welsh Grand Committee in the near future?

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
A debate on the European Economic Community will start on Thursday and will last for several days. We will certainly consider, in the light of that debate, whether it would be advantageous to have a further debate in the Welsh Grand Committee.

§ 15. Mr. Roy Hughes
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the action he has taken during the Recess to consult the people of Wales about the proposal that Great Britain should join the European Economic Council.

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
I and other Ministers have on a number of occasions spoken to audiences in Wales during the Recess on the entry issue and answered questions.

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
I thought that perhaps the right hon. and learned Gentleman had been too busy blowing up balloons at the Conservative Party Conference. Does he appreciate that some of us who have spent the whole Recess in Wales have formed the firm conclusion that the people there are overwhelmingly against Britain's entry into the Common Market and will not forget his betrayal of essential Welsh interests?

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
Certainly that is not the view of the C.B.I. of Wales, the National Coal Board, or the farmers of Wales.

§ Mr. Elystan Morgan
Will the Secretary of State tell the House whether, before he came to any conclusions on entry to the Common Market, he made independent investigations, or whether he, like the Welsh Economic Council, was taken on a conducted tour of certain places in Europe which it was regarded as advantageous for him to look at before coming to a conclusion?

§ Mr. Peter Thomas
That was a somewhat offensive observation. The Chairman of the Welsh Council was not taken on a conducted tour. He is a man who is quite able to ask the questions he wants to ask, and to seek the information that he wishes. He has been over there, as have officials from my Department. They were not taken on a conducted tour but found out the information they were seeking.