HC Deb 12 June 1972 vol 838 cc988-91
11. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters now remain to be negotiated prior to possible entry into the Common Market on 1st January, 1973.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The pre-entry negotiations with the European Communities were completed in January and the agreements reached recorded in the instruments relating to United Kingdom accession to the Communities.

Mr. Marten

Of course I was aware of that, but surely there is a great number of outstanding matters. Would my right hon. Friend agree that they include such things as the reform of the common agricultural policy, political institutions, regional policy, transport and lorries—all matters which should be settled on behalf of the British people before we agree to go in? Will my right hon. Friend therefore kindly refer to his Cabinet colleagues and suggest that the Third Reading of the European Communities Bill should not take place until Britain is satisfied about these matters?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

That would be a difficult request for me to say "Yes" to. The matters my hon. Friend has raised are matters we can discuss with great advantage when we are inside the Community—regional policy, for example. We are discussing in Brussels matters of immense importance like industrial policy, regional policy and progress towards monetary union not only in the Commission but with the Ministers, who meet from time to time. These subjects are definitely covered at the present time.

Mr. David Steel

One of the remaining outstanding matters for negotiation in this House is the nature and composition of British representation in the European Parliament. How soon does the right hon. Gentleman think we will be able to have satisfaction about this?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Personally, I think we would like to have experience of the European Parliament before we make up our minds how best it should be dealt with.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

The hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) mentioned about a dozen items still outstanding, the Foreign Secretary mentioned about another 15 and there are hundreds of others. How can the Government get the full-hearted consent of Parliament and people if even the Government do not know what we are negotiating or agreed upon? How can the Government get the full-hearted consent of Parliament and people on this issue?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

In response to the hon. Member, I can think of a number of very important questions we should be discussing between now and the summit meeting in October. Apart from the ones I have mentioned, such as progress towards a monetary union for Europe, there is industrial policy—because it has all been agriculture up to now. Again, I can think of examining the attitude of the Community towards the Third World. I think these can be defined very well at the summit meeting in October and signposts given for the direction in which the Community should proceed.

20. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting of Ministers of the European Economic Community and applicant countries at Luxembourg on 26th May, in particular on the consideration that was given to methods of decision-making within the Community.

28. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the view of the British Government on the matters raised at his meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the Ten in Luxembourg on 27th May.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The content of these discussions must remain confidential.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Would my right hon. Friend agree that whatever may be in controversy about the Community there is virtually unanimous agreement in thinking circles, both in the countries of the Community and the applicant countries, as to the inadequacy of the democratic aspect of decision-making? In view of current interest in the question as evidenced by the Vedal report and others, can he say what Her Majesty's Government propose to contribute to the thinking on this question both in regard to the national Parliament and the European Parliament?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

As I indicated earlier in relation to the working of the European Parliament, I believe that most of the House would agree that if we have a bureaucratic institution there must be a political institution to control it. As to the degree to which the powers of the European Parliament are increased or how best this Parliament can contribute to the European Parliament, as I have said I think it would be prudent to have experience of the working of that Parliament before making up our minds how we can best fulfil our functions.

Mr. Lewis

In his original reply the Foreign Secretary mentioned confidentiality. Are not the Government treating the House with even more contempt than they usually show on Common Market questions? There are inspired leaks before, during and after the discussions, so that we can read in the Press what happens at the discussions, but we are not told the facts by the Government. Does not the Foreign Secretary think that he should treat the House with respect and tell us what is happening rather than leave us to get information from Press reports?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Government pronouncements deal with facts that can be confirmed; leaks deal with rumours that cannot.

Mr. Shore

Does the Foreign Secretary accept that the Ministers of the Six in the Council of Ministers have agreed together that their deliberations will not be confidential in respect of what they tell their own national Parliaments? Will he therefore reconsider his reply? On the substance of the matter, will he kindly take the opportunity at an early date, if he has not already done so, to raise with the members of the Six, or the Ten as it now is, the question of the pollution of the atmosphere caused by French nuclear testing in the South Pacific?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The right hon. Gentleman has travelled an unusually long way from the original Question. I do not think the House has any reason to complain about ministerial statements of facts. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster comes back regularly and reports to the House.