HC Deb 13 June 1974 vol 874 cc1821-2
Q1. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Italian Prime Minister to pay an official visit to the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have at present no plans to do so, Sir.

Mr. Blaker

As the Government have made it clear that they are negotiating with a view to staying in the EEC, will the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity to make clear whether he still takes the view that was expressed in the Anglo-Italian declaration of April 1969, when he was Prime Minister, that the Community remains the basis for European unity, that the common interests of our Continent demand union and that the Community should be supported by an elected Parliament?

The Prime Minister

The Question is about the visit of the Italian Prime Minister. The hon. Gentleman may know that there are certain technical difficulties about the visit which we hope will be quickly resolved. Our general negotiations on the Market were fully debated in the House last Tuesday. Given the right conditions, which depend on the terms, we are prepared to discuss all future questions about the organisation of the Community.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

When my right hon. Friend eventually meets the Italian Prime Minister will he ask him, in the interests of informed debate in this Chamber, to list all the advantages which Italy has derived from its long membership of the Common Market?

The Prime Minister

I think that this is a matter for the Italian Government and for the Italian Parliament when they have resolved their present difficulties, with which all of us have great sympathy and which all of us, in the common interests of the wider world economic community, hope will be quickly resolved.