HC Deb 18 July 1972 vol 841 cc415-8
Mr. Rhodes

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the validity of legislation now passing through Parliament in the light of the challenge being made to it by the German representatives to the European Economic Community Commission subsequent to our entry into the Community on 1st January, 1973, as agreed on Third Reading of the European Communities Bill in the House of Commons. I can be very brief. The obvious confusion in this Chamber alone, never mind in industry outside, about the validity of the laws we are now passing through the House was clear from the questions asked by hon. Members today. It is a point of fact that the Commission is considering representations by the German representatives whether legislation we are now discussing in the House—matters concerned with the future financial grants to industry for regional aid under the Industry Bill and the Finance Bill—will be valid after we enter the Community next year.

I believe that this is a matter of some urgency for the House. I cannot see the point of the House continuing to debate night after night, week after week, long complicated legislation if in certain particulars where the Government refuse to accept Amendments we may well find that in another place, where we are not represented, and where we shall not be represented until after 1st January, 1973, there will be a question whether it is valid after that date.

The European Communities Bill has passed through the House and has had its Third Reading. It has accepted Article 92 of the Treaty, the very article which we are told in Press reports the Germans are now quoting, quite rightly under the terms of the Treaty, to seek an amendment to legislation which we are about to pass through the House.

This is a matter of urgency, because how can the House contemplate, for example, the coming Parliamentary Recess, if we ever get there, or the legislative programme which will follow between then and the next Session, when we do not know for certain whether the laws which we have already begun to pass through the House are self-contradictory? This is a situation of hopeless confusion.

I am not arguing the case for the particular point of view being put by the Germans, but it is obvious to any fair-minded person that there is hopeless confusion. Therefore, as a matter of urgency the House should discuss the German initiative.

I have warned in the House and elsewhere for many years that this problem would arise. As a Tyneside Member with deep problems of unemployment in my area, I desperately want industrialists in the North to know exactly what will be the permitted financial position after 1st January, and the industrial workers will want to be reassured about regional aid to the area. An emergency debate might at least clarify some of those points.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Robert Grant-Ferris)

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the validity of legislation now passing through Parliament in the light of the challenge being made to it by the German representatives to the European Economic Community Commission subsequent to our entry into the Community on 1st January, 1973, as agreed on Third Reading of the European Communities Bill in the House of Commons. I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving me adequate notice of his intention to raise the matter. I have given it the most careful consideration, but I am unable to accede to his request.