HC Deb 28 October 1971 vol 823 c2071
Q3. Dr. Gilbert

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to call a conference of Heads of Government of all European Economic Community countries and all European Free Trade Association member countries.

The Prime Minister

None, Sir, but we are in continuing contact at Ministerial and official level with member Governments of both the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association.

Dr. Gilbert

If the right hon. Gentleman succeeds in dragging a divided and resentful country into the E.E.C., and should certain E.F.T.A. countries not succeed in making arrangements suitable to them, will the Prime Minister give the House an assurance that he will look after the interests of those countries and that they will not be cast aside once they have served our purposes?

The Prime Minister

There was an agreement between the members of E.F.T.A. that reasonable opportunity would be given to other members to reach such arrangements as they wished to negotiate with the Community. That is what we are doing.

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