§ 29. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord President of the Council what are his responsibilities for the dissemination of information about European Community affairs.
§ Mr. BiffenI have a general responsibility for coordinating information on Government policy, including matters relating to the Community.
§ Mr. TaylorIn view of the widespread rumours that an election might be announced soon, will the Leader of the House say who is responsible for saying whether it is still the Government's firm intention that a rebate for 1983 must be resolved on 6 June and no later?
§ Mr. BiffenClearly, if an election were to be held on the date mentioned by my hon. Friend it would be one factor in the Government's negotiating posture. I assure my hon. Friend that we shall fight sturdily for our corner in these matters and thus contrast our performance with the negative attitude of our opponents.
§ Mr. JayHas 10 years' membership of this organisation altered the right hon. Gentleman's views on the subject?
§ Mr. BiffenThe Community, like beauty, lies in the eye of the beholder.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the less information we have about federalist pretentions and pettifogging harmonisation, the more support there will be in the United Kingdom for the EC?
§ Mr. BiffenIt is certainly true that there will be a much happier commitment to the alliance that we have within the EC if it is clearly based upon national institutions and the interest of the nation state.
§ Mr. Ioan EvansDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that beauty is only skin deep, that membership of the EC has cost us £1 million for every day that we have been a member over the past 10 years, 4 million unemployed, and a loss of 2 million manufacturing jobs?
§ Mr. BiffenIf over the next few weeks the hon. Gentleman conducts his campaign with that rather simple approach to what is essentially a fairly complex problem there will be growing support for a party that supports fraternal association with our partners and the championing of national interests.
§ Mr. SkinnerWill the Leader of the House confirm that in the 10 years since Britain joined the EC, which he consistently voted against—36 times in the first Session, I think—[Interruption.] Yes, he held the record on the Tory Benches. Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the total net cost to Britain has been £3,911 million, of which £2,476 million was spent during the four years of the Tory Government—62.5 per cent. of the net total—contrary to what the media says about the Prime Minister bringing home barrowloads of money from Brussels?
§ Mr. BiffenI can neither confirm nor deny the hon. Gentleman's statistics, but the Prime Minister and the Treasury Bench have been much more aggressive and successful in the prosecution of the national interest than the supine bunch who preceded them.