HC Deb 19 December 1974 vol 883 cc1810-1
Q5. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the President of France.

The Prime Minister

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 17th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 399.]

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend believe that, as a result of the private talks and the subsequent summit talks, the prospects of Britain's remaining in the Common Market are that much brighter? Will he further restate the position that, if so, he will make recommendations to the British people to accept the terms of renegotiation?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend will be aware that I dealt with this matter very fully both in my statement and in answer to questions in the House on Monday. I welcome the progress that was made on the budgetary question. That is still to be ratified and turned into concrete proposals as a result of what we then decided.

There are other matters of vital importance to this House, to the economy, and to the country, on which we hope to make progress. One or two are becoming easier, but others remain very difficult. I repeat what I said on Monday and in the speech which I made just before these talks took place, a copy of which I put in the Library, namely, that, in accordance with our manifesto, if we get satisfaction on these terms I shall certainly wish to recommend their acceptance. If we do not, I shall have to make a different recommendation.

Mr. Hurd

Will the House of Commons be given an opportunity to make its own judgment on the results of the Prime Minister's renegotiations before there is either a Labour Party conference or recourse to the ballot box?

The Prime Minister

I have no doubt that when the renegotiations are complete the matter will be reported to the House. Indeed, the House is already spending a considerable amount of time, by day and by night, on those questions. Of course there will be a report to the House, and it will be for the House to decide whether it intends to debate the matter. It will take somewhat longer before any recommendations are made to the country, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall make recommendations to the country. We shall not tell the country that we are going to take a particular decision only on the basis of the consent of the people and then take a decision rejecting any attempt to get their consent.