§ Mr. Wingfield DigbyWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I beg to present a petition from the electors of West Dorset. It is signed by 20 electors. The petition contends that the electorate is unaware of the constitutional implications of joining the European Common Market, and that a challenge to the established procedures of Parliament has not been examined and that national sovereignty has been eroded continually.
The petition concludes:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that the appropriate steps be taken to delay the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities until after the said constitutional implications have been fully investigated and explained to the electorate and the electorate has expressed its consent to the European Communities Bill by means of a referendum or General Election.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.I wish to make it plain that I dissociate myself from these views. However, I believe that minority opinions should be heard.
§ To lie upon the table.