HC Deb 29 April 1975 vol 891 cc233-4
Q6. Mr. Skinner

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the public speech made at Cambridge on 11th April on the Common Market.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend did so, Sir, on 14th April.

Mr. Skinner

Does my right hon. Friend recall that in the speech at Cambridge and in many others he made recently the Prime Minister referred to the hope that the campaign would be conducted in a fair and, I assume, a legal manner? In view of that, will he perhaps approach the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to investigating the latest appalling violations of Sections 99 and 100 of the Representation of the People Act 1949, which deal with treating and bribery, in respect of expensive expense-paid visits to Brussels for journalists and diplomatic writers so as to influence them in their views and also, presumably, to influence the papers for which they write?

Mr. Short

The Representation of the People Act will not apply until we have made an order under the Referendum Bill when it becomes an Act. We parted with that measure last week and it has gone to another place. The order will be laid before the House and we hope that the House will agree to it. It will receive approval in Council on 14th May, so that the Representation of the People Act will not apply until then.

Mr. Lane

Is the Leader of the House aware that the Prime Minister's speech gave a great boost to the Cambridge in Europe campaign and that we shall be even more grateful if the Prime Minister and other consenting members of the Cabinet now issue a further clear call to all Labour supporters to support the recommendation of their Government?

Mr. Short

I am glad to hear about the Cambridge in Europe campaign, but certainly the Prime Minister did this on Saturday.

Mr. Thorpe

So that the Prime Minister should not feel that he is being attacked in his absence, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is. aware that many of us are delighted that somebody in the Labour movement supports the Government's recommendation on Europe, and nobody more appropriately than the Prime Minister. We hope that he and other Ministers will keep up the good work.

Mr. Short

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be glad to hear that, and I shall so inform my right hon. Friend when I telephone him in Jamaica.