§ Q1. Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Prime Minister how many letters he has now received on the subject of Great Britain's entry into the European Community.
§ Q5. Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received during the Summer Recess on the subject of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.
§ Q9. Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received on the subject of unemployment since 18th June, 1971.
§ Q11. Mr. John D. Grantasked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received since 18th June, 1970, on the subject of unemployment.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I would refer to the answer I gave on 19th October to Questions from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) and other hon. Members.—[Vol. 823, c. 540.]
§ Mr. ClarkeWill my right hon. Friend agree that both in his answers to correspondence and in every other possible way, the public has been more fully informed and more fully consulted on Britain's entry into the E.E.C. than on any other political issue in recent times, and will he agree also that, now that we have had the great national debate, the only sensible way of resolving it is by a vote here in the House of Commons?
§ The Prime MinisterI should have thought that there would have been general agrement among all those who observe the political situation that of all the issues which have arisen in the past 25 years this is the one which, through television, radio and all the media of communication, has been the most thoroughly discussed.
§ Mr. TuckWhat proportion of the British people did the Prime Minister intend to be understood in the words,
the full-hearted support of the British people"?Further, as neither he nor this Parliament has any mandate either for or against entry into the Common Market, how does he hope to obtainthe full-hearted support of the British people",and how will he know when he has it?
§ The Prime MinisterFor many years I have made plain that I do not believe in referenda as part of the British system, and in that I am in agreement with the Leader of the Opposition. I have always 2069 said that this matter must be settled by the Vote of Parliament, and that will happen at 10 o'clock tonight.
§ Mr. SkinnerMy Question was primarily on the subject of unemployment. Will the Prime Minister take note that his Minister for Industry said a few weeks ago that too many people in this country are becoming over-obsessed with unemployment and repudiate that statement on behalf of his Government? Since the Prime Minister has allied my Question with Questions on the Common Market, will he say—not in an abstract or generalised way as he has done in the past—precisely how going into the Common Market will reduce our unemployment figures?
§ The Prime MinisterThe opportunities which a larger market will give our industry for greater sales should give it also the opportunity of expanding its employment. I should have thought that that was quite clear.
§ Mr. GrantWill the Prime Minister say whether, having viewed the underlying trends of unemployment, he now believes that a winter unemployment figure of one million is likely to be reached?
§ The Prime MinisterI propose to follow the example of my predecessors and of all Governments of not making forecasts.
§ Mr. LaneDoes my right hon. Friend agree, from his correspondence and meetings, that support for British entry into the Common Market is strongest among the younger members of the public who have most at stake in our decision tonight?
§ The Prime MinisterIn the circumstances of the last day of the debate, I do not propose to venture a forecast as to individual aspects of public opinion. As I have always made plain, this question can be settled only by Parliament, and that is what Parliament is about to do.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe Prime Minister has said that this question has probably been discussed more adequately and fully than any other question in the last quarter of a century. Does he draw the conclusion that it is because this is so that the British public remain so obdurately opposed to entry?
§ The Prime MinisterAs is well known, I am not one of those who allows policy or decisions to be influenced by public opinion polls. In this I am reinforced by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition who, on 3rd June, 1970, just before the General Election, said, speaking for his Government:
If given the opportunity the Government will take the decision on the basis of their own assessment and Parliament will decide whether it is right for Britain to go in or not. Opinion polls have the habit of differing from time to time. It is a matter for the Government and Parliament to judge the wishes and the needs of the country before deciding.I agree wholeheartedly with him on that, and that is what we are doing.