HC Deb 13 June 1974 vol 874 c1810
11. Mr. Blaker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the Finance Ministers of the EEC.

16. Mr. Marten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next be meeting Common Market Finance Ministers.

Mr. Dell

My right hon. Friend attended a meeting of EEC Finance Ministers on 6th June. The next meeting will be held on 15th July.

Mr. Blaker

In view of the present economic difficulties and uncertainties in Western Europe, and indeed throughout the world, is it not clear that close cooperation between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his colleagues in the Committee of Finance Ministers will be important in the coming months?

Mr. Dell

That is true. Indeed, general international monetary co-operation will be important in the coming months. This is why my hon. Friend is currently in Washington.

Mr. Raphael Tuck

What about monetary union? Has any progress been made on that perilous road?

Mr. Dell

My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have made clear the Government's view about economic and monetary union.

Mr. Marten

When the Chancellor meets the Finance Ministers, will he remind them of the Conservative Party manifesto in 1970 in which we said that if we did not get into the Common Market we were confident that we could stand on our own feet outside it? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the oil bonanza since then will mean that we shall have a much greater opportunity to stand on our own feet outside the Community?

Mr. Dell

The hon. Gentleman forgets that nobody is likely to believe anything in the Conservative manifesto any more.