HC Deb 16 November 1972 vol 846 cc605-7
Q2. Mr. Adley

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Canadian Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Great Britain.

Mr. Barber

I have been asked to reply.

As the Prime Minister of Canada knows, my right hon. Friend is always ready to welcome him to this country for official talks.

Mr. Adley

Bearing in mind that the Canadian Government have invited heads of Commonwealth countries to a possible Commonwealth conference in Canada next year, does my right hon. Friend agree that, as we are entering Europe, the British Government can now do a very important job in smoothing and improving the links and relationship between the Commonwealth and the European Economic Community? Secondly, in view of the recent election results in Canada, is there any possibility of the attitude of Prime Minister Trudeau towards NATO being softened somewhat?

Mr. Barber

My hon. Friend is right, as I understand it, in that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Arnold Smith, has suggested that a meeting of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth might take place next year. I understand that Mr. Arnold Smith is now exploring with the Heads of Government what dates are likely to be most convenient to them.

On my hon. Friend's other point, this is something which my right hon. Friend dealt with in his speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet early this week, and it is well understood in Canada, as in other parts of the Commonwealth, that our entry to the EEC in no way indicates any weakening of our interests in the countries of our friends in the Commonwealth. On the contrary, my discussions with Canadians have shown that our membership of the enlarged Community will strengthen the economy, and they recognise that this, in turn, will make us a stronger and more useful partner to our old friends.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, in view of the economic potential and the general feeling that is made clear when one goes to Canada, there is a special need for efforts to be made to re-establish the special relationship between this nation and Canada? Merely to give answers which suggest that Canada is not bitter towards us is not facing the need to take positive action to re-establish real understanding.

Mr. Barber

I do not believe that that is a true reflection of the position. Ministers, business leaders and the Press in Canada have reacted favourably to the successful outcome of our negotiations with the EEC. However, I agree that it is of the utmost importance that we should maintain the strong and good relations which we have with Canada.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether there is any good reason why the next Commonwealth Conference should not take place in Britain, thus endorsing our position of leadership within that family of nations?

Mr. Barber

I think I am right in saying that the location of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, just as the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Conference, with which I am more familiar, is a matter for general discussion and agreement.

Mr. Thorpe

Since the hon. Member for Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls) appears to speak for the Liberal Government of Canada in saying that they are opposed to our entry into the EEC, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that political opinion in Canada fully understands the motives of both Labour and Conservative Governments in joining and, indeed, looks forward to an enlarged Community from which Canada will benefit?

Mr. Barber

Yes, I believe that that is so. In fact, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister received a very generous message from Mr. Trudeau on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty of Accession.