HC Deb 01 February 1972 vol 830 cc232-3
Q1. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to organise an exhibition to celebrate British entry into the European Economic Community.

Q4. Mr. David Watkins

asked the Prime Minister if he will announce a day's national holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the Treaty of Rome.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)

Her Majesty's Government are considering ways in which our entry into the European Communities might be celebrated. It is too early for me to be specific about the form the celebrations might take: but I am grateful to my hon. Friend and the hon. Gentleman for their suggestions.

Sir A. Meyer

Does my right hon. Friend agree that such an exhibition would be by far the best way of arousing the interest and enthusiasm of the man in the street for the great opportunities that will open to this country when we join the Common Market? In choosing a site, will my right hon. Friend consider a place that really needs cheering up, like North Battersea or South-West Wolverhampton?

The Prime Minister

There have been a number of proposals for such an exhibition to be held so that Britain should be able to demonstrate the products of British industry in the most effective way to our European colleagues, and those proposals are being examined by the Government.

Mr. Watkins

In view of the nature of the terms to which the right hon. Gentleman has appended his signature, might not it be more appropriate to consider a day of national mourning?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman seems to be capable of contradicting himself between the time he put down his Question and the time he asked his supplementary question. If he wants a day of national mourning, why he put down a Question asking for a national holiday is difficult to understand. When we enter the Community the great majority of people in this country will certainly want to show what Britain can do in the best possible way.

Mr. Onslow

If such an exhibition is held, will my right hon. Friend ensure that it contains a copy of the Labour Government's White Paper of May, 1967, even if it is not possible to obtain and put on display the actual coat that the Leader of the Opposition has since turned?

The Prime Minister

The contents of that White Paper and its support for entry into the Community are well known. It is in many ways an historic document.

Mr. Harold Wilson

Will the right hon. Gentleman point to any section of that White Paper or any statement subsequently made in which we said that if suitable terms were obtained Parliament would have no ability whatsoever to change legislation enacted in this Parliament except by order of the Community?

The Prime Minister

The constitutional innovation would lie in the acceptance in advance as part of the law of the United Kingdom of provisions to be made in the future by instruments issued by the Community institutions—a situation for which there is no precedent in this country. Those are not my words. They are the words of the right hon. Gentleman's White Paper on the legal and constitutional implications of membership, all of which the right hon. Gentleman accepted.

Mr. Harold Wilson

And the right hon. Gentleman will recognise that we said that this had to be done by full legislation of this House, where any legislation on the Statute Book which has been subject to legislative procedure, should be subject to legislative procedure now. The right hon. Gentleman, who pledged himself not to sign the agreement without the wholehearted consent of the British people, must now at least allow Parliament to have its way.

The Prime Minister

The right hon. Gentleman has acknowledged his retreat from responsibility once again.

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