Council of Ministers (Hansard, 18 November 1981)

§ 40. Mr. Skinner
asked the Lord Privy Seal when next he expects to attend the European Economic Community Council of Ministers; and what items will be on its agenda.

§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins
I expect to attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 7 and 8 December. The agenda for the meeting has yet to be decided. As the hon. Gentleman may know, I shall be making a statement later this afternoon about the Foreign Affairs Council, which has just taken place.

§ Mr. Skinner
Does the Lord Privy Seal agree that one of the most outstanding questions in the Common Market concerns the West German share of the budget? Does he agree also that any reduction in the West German share is bound to result in a percentage increase in the amount that Great Britain has to contribute? What is the Government's attitude on this matter?

§ Mr. Atkins
One of the outstanding matters, apart from the West German contribution, is this country's contribution. That is one of the matters under discussion, and I shall refer to it in my statement.

§ Mr. Squire
Does my right hon. Friend agree that his role at these meetings would be made immeasurably easier if there were a general acceptance across the party divide on our membership of the EEC? We could then advance within the Community and my right hon. Friend would not have the constant sniping that he receives in his present role from people who have never accepted anything beyond the shores of this island?

§ Mr. Atkins
There is no doubt that it would greatly help at these meetings if, as one would expect, one could be confident that hon. Members were behind those who were trying to fight for Britain's interests in the Community.

§ Mr. Denzil Davies
Will the Lord Privy Seal confirm that the Government are now considering, with the other EEC countries, a document that proposes setting up a common defence policy—although it is described as a security policy—and the extension of the powers of the European Assembly? Will he assure the House that that document will not be considered by the Council of Ministers before it is debated in this House?

§ Mr. Atkins
I cannot confirm that. The right hon. Gentleman can ask me further questions on the matter after he has heard my statement in a few minutes' time.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
Will my right hon. Friend let us know whether Namibia is likely to be on the agenda? If so, what is the British Government's attitude, given that our right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign Secretary said in a statement to Arab journalists, prior to his visit to the Middle East, that United Nations supervised elections would be very difficult, bearing in mind that the United Nations still recognises SWAPO as the sole and authentic voice of the internal Namibian people? What is the British Government's position, given that the Foreign Secretary has implied that UN supervised elections are virtually out of the question?

§ Mr. Atkins
Those points were covered earlier, during questions to my hon. Friend the Minister of State. I do not know whether that subject will be on the agenda, as the agenda has not yet been settled.

§ Mr. Stoddart
Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if the proposals from the Bonn—Rome axis on further political integration in Europe are put forward at the next meeting he will tell his European partners that there is no mandate for that in Britain and that the British people will never give the Government a mandate to allow foreign Powers more sovereignty over us?

§ Mr. Atkins
The hon. Gentleman has placed me in a marginal difficulty. He has referred to something that was discussed at the latest European Council and I wish to refer to that in my statement. If I were to answer the hon. Gentleman's question now I should be anticipating my statement and might get into trouble. If the hon. Gentleman is allowed to, will he ask me that question later?

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Stoddart) will be lucky to be called a second time.

§ Mr. Stoddart
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I hope that when the statement is made, you will——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Expectations are never points of order—[Interruption.] Order. We are not having a conversation.