§ 13. Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the economic situation, he proposes to make use of Article 135 of the Treaty of Accession to the EEC.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanMy right hon. Friend has already announced the measures considered necessary in present circumstances ; these do not entail recourse to Article 135.
§ Mr. DeakinsSince we now face the worst balance of payments crisis in the history of any country, surely the time has come to tell the Common Market that we can no longer bear the burden of the taxes on imported food, the net cost of our payments to the Community budget and the intolerable burden of Common Market membership on our overall balance of payments position.
§ Mr. MacmillanIt is not membership of the Common Market that has placed an intolerable burden on our balance of payments but the pressure of world prices and commodity prices, which has been enhanced by the increase in energy prices. This has presented the whole of Europe with a balance of payments problem vis-à-vis the exporting countries.
§ Mr. DykesHas the Chancellor discussed recently with the Community the question of limiting imports of nonessential consumer durables from non-Community countries?
§ Mr. MacmillanMy right hon. Friend has held a number of discussions with Ministers within the Community. In so 904 far as these are public, the results have been made known. It would not be right for me to say what my right hon. Friend might or might not be discussing in his present talks in Rome.