REFERENDUM (Hansard, 10 June 1975)

§ Q4. Mr. Canavan
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the result of the Common Market referendum.

§ The Prime Minister
I did so yesterday, Sir.

§ Mr. Canavan
Will the Prime Minister re-emphasise that the referendum was on Common Market membership only and that the result cannot in any way be interpreted as a victory for certain minority factions who are now demanding various insane policies—such as coalition, a statutory wage freeze and separatism—as well as conducting a disgraceful witch-hunt against some of our most successful Socialist Ministers simply because they were anti-Market?

§ The Prime Minister
I am happy to find myself in agreement with my hon. Friend. The ballot paper which I completed, after due consideration and study of the arguments and speeches, including my own, contained a simple question requiring a "Yes" or "No" to our remaining in the Common Market. That was all the country voted on. Those who have read into it other things are quite wrong, although my hon. Friend might be forgiven a little for taking the view that it was repudiation of one very noisy faction north of the border.

§ Mrs. Bain
In view of the fact that reference has been made to separatism, will the Prime Minister agree that many people in Scotland seek separate representation for the people of Scotland in any European body since it will affect the welfare of the Scottish people? Will he accept that in the absence of a head of Government of Scotland, the people regard him, at least on a pro tem basis, as the head of such a Government? Will he therefore concede the policy of the Scottish National Party involving direct representation by the people of Scotland in Europe?

§ The Prime Minister
Flattery will get the hon. Lady nowhere, but I am happy to feel that I made two speeches, in Aberdeen and Glasgow—

§ Mrs. Winifred Ewing
Not many came, Harold.

§ The Prime Minister
It seemed to me that the general vote in Scotland was in favour of what I was advocating there. With regard to separatism, the hon. Lady will be aware—and I am surprised she has not made more of the point—that two Scottish regions voted against membership. However, it seems to me—and others take this view—that this was more a repudiation of the desire to be linked with an independent Scotland than with anybody else.

§ Mrs. Bain
Come up to Stornoway.

§ Mr. Hordern
Now that the referendum is over, when can we expect the Prime Minister and the Government to take action to deal with our serious economic situation? Does the Prime Minister appreciate that it is a question not only of replacing those Ministers whose attitude towards the EEC was a contrary one but of their competence in dealing with these economic matters? Does he agree with the Home Secretary that it is difficult to understand how the Secretary of State for Industry can be taken seriously as a Minister dealing with economic affairs?

§ The Prime Minister
As to the last part of that question, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not wish to become more of a bore than the Almighty originally made him.
With regard to the serious part of the hon. Gentleman's question—I always try to deal with the serious parts of these matters—this action is going on all the time. He will know that it was fully set out by the Chancellor and myself in a recent economic affairs debate. If he was present on that occasion, as I think he was, he knows that not a scintilla of a new policy emerged from the Opposition Front Bench on that occasion.

Mr. Wellbeloyed
In view of the decisive referendum result and the probability that the Parliamentary Labour Party might take a reasonable decision and agree to full and enthusiastic participation in the European Parliament, will my right hon. Friend ensure that mercy is tempered with justice by arranging for a fair proportion of ex-anti-Marketeers 240 to be consigned to the European Parliament?

§ The Prime Minister
I am not quite sure about the use of the word "consigned". I said yesterday that I hoped there would be a decision now so that the House could be fully represented at the Assembly. I also expressed our hope that those responsible for the selection of Members would ensure that they represented all points of view. Yesterday I paid a tribute to the Conservative Party. In selecting its representatives, the Conservative Party did not confine itself to those who were wholeheartedly in favour of membership of the Community.

§ Mr. Wigley
In view of the desire of the Prime Minister for the people of Wales and Scotland to play a constructive part within the EEC, will he say specifically what steps he intends taking to give Wales and Scotland representation on bodies within the EEC, such as the Commission, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee?

§ The Prime Minister
I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman means when he refers to these institutions, the Commission or other bodies. If he refers to the Assembly, these are obviously matters which must be considered. I want that body to be representative of the House as a whole. We must take account of the fact that the membership of the House as elected is very largely distributed between the two major parties, which must be adequately represented.