§ 3. Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange to meet Council of Europe Ministers, so as to establish with them a Community Chest to facilitate inter-European community work programmes.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Dr. David Owen)My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
§ Mr. SteenIs the Minister in favour of the scheme currently being canvassed in the Commission to enable young people within the Nine to spend up to one year's community service in another EEC country? What has he done to further that splendid idea, and what further does he propose to do?
§ Dr. OwenI am all in favour of cooperation among the Nine, and I shall examine the scheme mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. I believe that we also need to encourage community work programmes on a national basis, and I have always supported them.
§ Mr. SillarsDoes my right hon. Friend recall that during the EEC campaign we were promised jobs for the boys in our own country? When will this happen?
§ Dr. OwenMany things were promised in the referendum campaign, on both sides of the argument. In my interventions in the campaign, I confined myself largely to arguing the political case rather than the economic one for entry.