HC Deb 20 May 1981 vol 5 cc283-4
Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the Government's policy on the proposal for a new treaty of European union to underpin European political cooperation and an emphasis on the need to include security considerations in discussions about such co-operation, as put forward in recent speeches by Herr Genscher and Signor Colombo.

Sir Ian Gilmour

The Government support Herr Genscher's wish to renew the Community's political impetus and to strengthen political co-operation, but they are not convinced that a new treaty is necessary for this. As to security, there is already some discussion of security matters by the Ten in the context of CSCE, and at the United Nations where they work to align their positions on disarmament questions. We would welcome wider consideration of the political aspects of security by the Ten. But we believe that defence and military aspects must remain the responsibility of NATO.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Reverting to the matter raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes), and with due respect to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith), may I ask whether my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal agrees that effective action against international terrorism requires an integration of resources over, for example, the pooling of police facilities and effectively policed action against third countries harbouring terrorists, going well beyond normal political co-operation between Governments? Is not the EEC the ideal framework for such joint action?

Sir Ian Gilmour

I agree in general with my hon. Friend. My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) would say that integration was the wrong word in this context, but I do not think that we need worry so much about words as about facts. There is great co-operation within the EEC on counter-terrorism matters and the EEC Ministers and officials responsible for that meet regularly to discuss and co-ordinate policies. We certainly expect that to happen during our Presidency.

Mr. Spearing

Will the Lord Privy Seal confirm that the co-operation to which he referred in his answer is outside the terms of the Treaty of Rome? If that is so, why should it not continue if the House ceased to be subjugated to that Treaty?

Sir Ian Gilmour

It is political co-operation among members of the Community which have subscribed to the Treaty of Rome. If any country left the Community, it would be extremely unlikely that it would be able to take part in the political co-operation among its former partners.

Mr. Jim Spicer

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a strong case for defence procurement policy being dealt with on a joint basis? Will he inquire into the funding that was allocated about four years ago for joint helicopter research and development which, at the time, seemed to point towards much greater co-operation in that area?

Sir Ian Gilmour

I shall make the inquiry for which my hon. Friend has asked. I agree that there are aspects of defence industries that can be dealt with by the EEC, but I stick to my main point that defence in general should remain within the province of NATO.