§ 13. Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental research grants from EECs sources would be jeopardised by United Kingdom withdrawal from the Community.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe EEC is contributing half the cost of United Kingdom work under the First Environment Programme—1974–75—valued at about £800,000, most of which is being done by British universities. Nearly all the United Kingdom contracts are already signed, and none stipulates continued British membership of the Community as a condition for completion of EEC payments.
§ Mr. RathboneI welcome some of the figures which the Minister has given. Is he aware, however, that when the Government are being forced to reduce expenditure on so many fronts, grants from European Community become more 1413 imporant than ever before? Is he also aware that it is only through our continued membership of the EEC that we shall be able to influence not only our own environment but the environment of Europe which increasingly impinges upon the environment of our island?
§ Mr. HowellI am well aware that the European Ministers take conservation and research into these matters very seriously. As a long-standing supporter of Europe, I know that to be the case. But I do not think that friends of our continued membership in Europe are necessarily doing us a great service by taking up all these small matters when great national issues have to be debated in the referendum campaign.