§ 1. Mr. David Huntasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Madrid.
§ Mr. HuntIn advance of his plans to visit Madrid, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to Spain becoming a member of the European Community?
§ Dr. OwenAny application which might be made by the Spanish Government would be to the Community as a whole, and Her Majesty's Government would be only one of the members of the Nine to take a view of it. It is normal practice to consult amongst the Nine before reaching a conclusion on any application. But, clearly, Her Majesty's Government's attitude would be conditioned by the sort of changes towards democracy which are now beginning to occur in Spain and which we welcome.
§ Mr. HurdHave not the King, the Government and the people of Spain made remarkably fast progress in the last year or so towards building a parliamentary democracy, and at this particularly difficult 646 time would it not be right for us to send out from this House a message of our congratulations and good wishes?
§ Dr. OwenThe course to be followed by Spain is a matter for the Spanish people themselves without outside interference. It is very much to be hoped that they will soon have a genuinely democratic system of government. But it is for them to decide these matters.
§ Mr. MacFarquharDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that, although we welcome the changes which have occurred since the death of Franco, Her Majesty's Government should not take any steps within the European Community to encourage Spanish membership until there have been full democratic elections in that country?