HL Deb 27 March 1974 vol 350 cc585-7

3.0 p.m.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, pending any formally negotiated change in the terms of accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community, they will abide by all their existing Treaty obligations.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made it clear that Her Majesty's Government will certainly fulfil their international obligations.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, I hope that I am not embarrassing the Government in any way when I say that I find that Answer extremely satisfactory.

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, may I ask why the Foreign Secretary said in another place last week that the Treaty was the main obstacle?

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, if the noble Baroness will look at the speech in its entirety she will find there the kind of assurance that I have given to the noble Lord, Lord Gladwyn. My right honourable friend's speech, and that of my right honourable friend the Prime Minister, made it absolutely clear that the commitments already entered into will be fulfilled.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, can my noble friend explain how it is possible to fulfil all the obligations of the Treaty and at the same time renegotiate the terms of the Treaty?

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, it was made absolutely clear last week in another place, on more than one occasion, that obligations already entered into would be fulfilled, but that we would expect our friends and allies in Europe to understand that we could not proceed, pending renegotiation, to further commitments.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that only the other day his right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (and he is also my right honourable friend and is still my right honourable friend), who was renegotiating some aspects of food policy, declared that he was not in favour at any time of the Common Agricultural Policy. Is there some confusion in the mind of my noble friend?

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

No, my Lords. The Common Agricultural Policy is one major aspect of the terms on which we entered the E.E.C. which we consider ought to be radically renegotiated. What my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries quite properly said was that, while he was entirely against the terms as they now stand, nevertheless, like the Government, he wished to see radical renegotiation in the spirit and at the pace which my right honourable friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have described.

LORD O'HAGAN

My Lords, would it not assist the Government in the difficult process mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, in his first supplementary question, if they were to send Labour Members to the European Parliament soon?

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, that is a somewhat different question, but I will say to the noble Lord now that the situation as it obtained before the General Election will continue, pending renegotiation, and that this, like other aspects of the terms on which we entered the Common Market, will be part of the comprehensive consideration leading to the renegotiation that the present Government will undertake.