§ Q3. Mr. Redmondasked the Prime Minister if he will now seek an early opportunity to address the European Assembly on the subject of British participation.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Adley) on 25th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 643–4.]
§ Mr. RedmondIs it not important that there should be a high-powered and a high-level follow-up to the initiative shown by my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Kirk) and his colleagues at the European Parliament? It is said to have shaken European MPs out of their complacency.
§ The Prime MinisterI believe that my hon. Friend's speech has been warmly welcomed throughout Europe and, in particular, in the European Parliament. [Laughter.] It shows the uneasiness of the Opposition when all they can do is laugh. They belong to a party which has opted out of everything in the modern world and which is opting out of Europe, and I am quite prepared to say that it is a loss.
§ Mr. Harold WilsonWhether the right hon. Gentleman makes his address or not, is he in a position, having considered it, to answer the question that I put last week? What guidance can he give to this House—to which he is responsible, as we all are—as to how it can, operating with its representation to the Council of Ministers, deal with man- 1159 datory decisions in Europe about our having to accept doctors and other professionals with totally inadequate qualifications, which we have always rejected?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman must be given the same answer. It is done through our representation on the Council of Ministers. He knows perfectly well what the system is. He accepted it when he was supporting entry into Europe.