HC Deb 12 May 1975 vol 892 cc15-6
12. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to have discussions with other participants in the international energy programme.

17. Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to have discussions with other participants in the international energy programme.

Mr. John Smith

My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with colleagues from other countries participating in the international energy programme. He will be visiting Norway and Sweden later this month. He had a series of useful meetings with members of the United States Administration when he was in America last week.

Mr. Blaker

Will the Under-Secretary ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to explain to the House why he objects to British membership of the EEC when his Department's replies to the House on 23rd April and the hon. Gentleman's answer earlier this afternoon show that it would involve no surrender of our national control over North Sea oil, whereas on the other hand he is prepared to recommend British membership of the IEA which would involve a degree of supranational control over our oil supplies?

Mr. John Smith

The hon. Gentleman should recognise, as I have pointed out to him on previous occasions, that the International Energy Agency and the Common Market are two quite different institutions and sets of arrangements.