HC Deb 07 May 1975 vol 891 cc1406-7
6. Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the consequences of Great Britain's withdrawal from the EEC on matters within the responsibility of his Department.

Mr. Crosland

Withdrawal would affect my Department's diverse interests in different ways. But I doubt that the consequences would on balance be very great one way or the other. The main arguments for and against withdrawal rest on the broad considerations set out in the Government's White Paper on Renegotiation.

Mr. Banks

Is the Secretary of State aware that valuable research work is being undertaken on water pollution alone as a result of EEC grants to the tune of some £250,000? What is his assessment of the cost to taxpayers of continuing this sort of research programme if Britain were to withdraw from the EEC?

Mr. Crosland

I have had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers in the EEC, which I found interesting and productive, and I thought that much of the work going on was useful. If, however, the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that this is one of the major arguments pro or anti withdrawal, I cannot honestly pretend that this is so.