HC Deb 29 October 1975 vol 898 cc1586-7
40. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can now state when the Council of Ministers is likely to receive the Tindemans report on political union.

Mr. Hattersley

The Belgian Prime Minister was asked by the Community Heads of Government to prepare the report by the end of 1975. M. Tindemans has not yet announced exactly when he expects to complete his study.

Mr. Moate

Did the Minister see reports last week to the effect that weekend discussions about political union had been attended by the Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers, the West German Chancellor, Ministers from France and Italy and also my right hon. Friend the Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath)? Although this was presumably a private meeting, can we be told whether a British Minister was present or invited? Are the Government satisfied that there has been an adequate dialogue between the Government and M. Tindemans to ensure that more realistic views about political union are easily understood by the British people?

Mr. Hattersley

I have no comment to make on that weekend meeting. No British Minister was there or, so far as I know, invited. It was a private occasion. The hon. Gentleman will understand that, as important decisions on this matter are approached, there will be meetings at all levels in the Community. I assure the House that when we are in a position to take soundings on the report and to make recommendations about our attitude, there will be proper consultation with all interests, including all the political parties.

Mr. Corbett

How does my right hon. Friend propose to consult the British people about political union?

Mr. Hattersley

I hope that we can do so as successfully as we did on 5th June last year. [An HON. MEMBER: "Another referendum?"] The method is something about which my hon. Friend should not make any assumptions. The report produced by M. Tindemans will give advice on a number of complex matters. It will be for Her Majesty's Government, the House of Commons and various other institutions in Great Britain to decide how they stand on that issue. We must then determine where Britain's interest lies.