HC Deb 09 March 1983 vol 38 cc833-4
65. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the Trades Union Congress about the future development of the European Community.

Mr. Hurd

My right hon. Friend had a meeting on 5 January with the international committee of the Trades Union Congress. Its members did not raise with him the development of the European Community, but we would be happy to hear their views.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister appreciate that the trade unions realise that Great Britain can no longer sustain the burden of membership of the Common Market? Is he aware that the trade unions bear in mind the £1 million a day membership fee, the inflationary food costs and the extra 2 million to 3 million unemployed, all of which have occurred since we joined the Community?

Mr. Hurd

We see signs that trade union leaders increasingly realise that withdrawal from the Community would put at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs in Britain.

Mr. Budgen

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the west midlands we do not want the development of the EC to take place through the development of the regional or social funds, but we should like the EC to do its present limited jobs better? Is my right hon. Friend further aware that, in particular, we should be grateful for a great deal more speed in renegotiating the extremely unfair trading agreement between the EC and Spain?

Mr. Hurd

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend's second point.

Mr. Hafer

How does the right hon. Gentleman conclude that the trade unions are not urging withdrawal when, in their economic review, they make it clear that they intend to urge withdrawal precisely because the Common Market is a burden on the British people?

Mr. Hurd

I read with interest an article by Mr. Lea, the TUC assistant general secretary, in The Listener on 20 January in which he argued in favour of co-operation on a western European basis. I am not sure whether all trade unionists have grasped the implications of the hon. Gentleman's paper, in which he argues in favour of putting up barriers, not only against our EC customers, but against EFTA customers, which would affect not 43 per cent. of our exports, but 60 per cent.