Foreign Ministers (Hansard, 17 November 1976)

§ 27. Mr. Marten
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his last meeting with his EEC colleagues.

§ Mr. Crosland
I attended the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 15th and 16th November. On the external relations side, the main items were the reply which the Community should return to the 1328 Council for Mutual Economic Assistance proposals received earlier this year, which is the subject of the next Question on the Order Paper, and agreement on the Community's Generalised Scheme of Preferences for 1977. The Council also considered a wide range of other external relations questions, on which I shall circulate a statement in the Official Report.
Commissioner Gundelach reported to the Council on his talks in Iceland on 12th November. We emphasised once again the great importance which Her Majesty's Government attach to arrangements that will allow us to continue fishing in Icelandic waters after the expiry of the provisional agreement. We also urged on the Council the need for a cutback in third country fishing in Community waters from the beginning of 1977.

§ Mr. Marten
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that short statement. Does he net believe that it should have been a statement at the end of Questions, as has been the custom, or are we to conclude, from the fact that it was only an answer to a Question that I happened to have on the Order Paper, that nothing very important was achieved at the conference?
Among the subjects thought likely to be discussed at the meeting held earlier was that of EEC passports. May we have an assurance that, if we are to have them, they will be additional only for people who want them—I cannot imagine why—and that they will not be compulsory for people who do not want them?

§ Mr. Crosland
With regard to the first part of the question, I have looked into this, and I find that there is no rule of procedure that makes it mandatory or even a matter of courtesy that an oral statement should be made each time a decision is taken. I hope it is accepted that good will and fair judgment are exercised each time on the question whether the business of the Council justifies a statement, bearing in mind the crowded nature of our business.
As for the question of the common passport, I have a great deal of personal sympathy with the hon. Gentleman, being on this kind of subject, like him, an old-fashioned patriot. Nevertheless, the view has been taken that in the interests of 1329 Community unity there would be advantage in having at any rate a greater degree of uniformity in the passport. This will be compulsory rather than voluntary, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman, having examined possible samples, that at the end of the day the British passport will remain highly recognisable.

§ Mr. McNamara
Will the Secretary of State say a little more about his discussions with Commissioner Gundelach? Is he aware of the grave concern that exists among fishermen on Humberside about the failure to reach an agreement with Iceland? What additional plans are there in hand for the end of this month?

§ Mr. Crosland
There is a Question about this matter later on the Order Paper, but as my hon. Friend mentioned Humberside I shall answer it now. I am aware of the deep anxieties felt on Humberside and I am in continuous touch with fishing interests. However, some recent statements have been very unfair to the Community and the Commission in suggesting that no action has occurred on the subject of Icelandic fishing. I have no intention of making a statement today about what might happen after 1st December.

§ Mr. John Davies
Will the Foreign Secretary say whether the Council of Foreign Ministers arrived at any conclusion about the advice that they might give to OPEC countries on the question of oil price increases in future?

§ Mr. Crosland
No. This was discussed, but no firm agreement was reached on Community action, as opposed to any action which individual Governments might take bilaterally with the various OPEC countries.

§ Mr. Mikardo
On the subject of passports, is the Foreign Secretary aware that immigration officers at Heathrow will refuse to look at British passports if they are handed in at the desk marked "EEC Passports"? This indicates that these officers have more good sense than some hon. Members in this House.

§ Mr. Crosland
I am not absolutely certain what reply to give to that question. Fortunately, the situation that my hon. Friend has described is a matter for the Home Office and not the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Several Hon. Members rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We must be fair to other hon. Members who have Questions on the Order Paper.