§ 1. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to meet the Council of Ministers of the European Community.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I meet Foreign Ministers of the Six fairly frequently. With the completion of the negotiations we have no present plans to meet the council as such.
§ Mr. MartenHas my right hon. and learned Friend noted the view expressed in Brussels last week about the possible inability of Britain to pay the bill for entry into the Common Market? If this matter is raised in the Council of Ministers, will my right hon. and learned Friend say that in Britain that view is largely shared?
§ Mr. RipponThat sounds to me wildly improbable. I have not heard a suggestion of that kind and I do not foresee a difficulty of that kind. If it were to arise, we would face it in the ordinary way.
§ 3. Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how paragraph 101 of the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4715, is affected by Article 135, paragraph 3, of Command Paper No. 4862-I, in so far as exports of agricultural, horticultural and pastoral foodstuffs from Australia to Great Britain are concerned.
§ Mr. RipponWith regard to trade in agricultural products, paragraph 101 of Cmnd. 4715 refers to arrangements applicable during the transitional period for third countries. Article 135 of the Act annexed to the Instruments of Accession to the Treaties of the European Communities relates exclusively to intra-Community trade.
§ Sir R. RussellCan the Government give an assurance that there will be some 3 protection in the treaty against possible dislocation of trade in Australian dairy produce which was promised in paragraphs 86 and 101 of the White Paper?
§ Mr. RipponMy hon. Friend should look at Protocol 16 of the Act of the Conference. He will see that this is relevant to his Question.