HC Deb 09 November 1983 vol 48 cc300-2
61. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers which he attended.

Mr. Rifkind

I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council held on 17 and 18 of October. A report on the outcome of this meeting was contained in my reply of 25 October to my hon. Friend the Member for East Lindsey (Mr. Tapsell).

Mr. Hardy

Does the Minister agree that in recent months he and his European colleagues have given grossly inadequate consideration to energy questions? Will he ensure that greater consideration is given to securing the fulfilment of the repeated commitments given to the coal industry by the Community? Does the hon. Gentleman accept that coal imports to Europe, which now exceed 70 million tonnes a year, are disadvantageous to the European coal industry and may create an economic dependency which — as I hope he will agree — would be very unwise?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the United Kingdom Government have been in the forefront in pressing for a Community energy policy. A document on new policies for the Community was tabled by the Government some time ago, which said that a new Community initiative was required over energy needs. We emphasised the role that the Community's coal resources could play in such an energy policy.

Sir Anthony Meyer

I welcome what my hon. Friend has said about a common energy policy, but may I ask him to persist in reminding the House that, whatever quarrel we may have with the Community over the budget. it is lunacy to think in terms either of paralysing the Community or of threatening non-co-operation at a time when the threat to this country from the East has never been greater because of possible quarrels over the Soviet succession and at a time when we appear to be finding it extraordinarily difficult to work with our American allies?

Mr. Rifkind

My hon. Friend is correct. It is in the interests of every member state of the Community that an early and satisfactory resolution to the problems on finance should be reached, not only for their own sake, but so that the Community can devote its attention to the many other areas of development in Community policy chat are urgently required.

Mr. Bermingham

If the Government are in the forefront of energy policy, should they not also be in the forefront of energy conservation policy? What steps do the Minister and his colleagues propose to take to persuade the Government to bring our energy conservation standards into line with some of those in Europe? Are the Government prepared to make it worth while for people to pursue an energy conservation policy?

Mr. Rifkind

I assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy is as concerned as he is on such matters. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman puts any questions on detailed matters affecting energy to my right hon. Friend.