§ 3.18 p.m.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy 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 to give a full list of the commitments in relation to all the various bodies which can allocate money from the EEC to projects in the United Kingdom, the projects agreed to and the amounts of money involved.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, the following figures refer to the two years from the United Kingdom's accession to the EEC to 31st December 1974. First, commitments for grants to the United Kingdom—from the Social Fund, £50 million; from the Agricultural Guidance Fund, £12 million; from the Coal and Steel Community, £7 million, a total of £69 million. Secondly commitments for loans to the United Kingdom—from the European Investment Bank, £113 million; from the Coal and Steel Community, £77 million, a total of £190 million. Thirdly, other receipts from Budget—from the Agricultural Guarantee Fund, £175 million; from other Budget funds, £34 million, total of £209 million. Fourthly, projects—the commitments cover well over 100 projects in the United Kingdom, ranging from a £15.6 million loan for a nuclear power station to a grant of £4,500 for a minor research project.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that information. May I ask him to let me have all the detail involved when it is to hand, so that I may see what parts of our country are getting help? Will he bear in mind that our being in Europe is a great advantage to this part of the world? May I also ask—because when I last asked a Question he told me that he would help me to get the facts I wanted—how he intends to let me have the information which I have sought? Will it be in writing, by seeing me or by putting it in print, because he will realise that I like to know all the details of these matters. I want to know, for example, what help we shall be getting for the North Shields fish quay and similar projects.
§ Several Noble Lords: Answer!
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, the noble Baroness has raised two issues that call for reply. The first concerns the list of projects. As I said, it contains well over 100 projects and I shall have to consider her request before saying that I will send her a letter giving her all the details. But I assure the noble Baroness that her request will receive consideration. Secondly, my Lords, as to help with the noble Baroness's taxes, since Hansard is not available I cannot look up what the noble Baroness has said and what I said, but as soon as Hansard is available I shall do so.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for what he had to say, would he be so kind as to remember, on detail, that while it may be very useful to the Administration not to print 100 items, the same is not true in regard to the country? If, as I understand, the Prime Minister and many others wish us to remain in Europe, it would interest the country to know the details of what has been done to help us before the Referendum. So would the noble Lord please reconsider? Even if it is a bore for him, it is not a bore for the country.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, as usual, I shall do my best.
The Earl of BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, am I not right in saying that the European Movement has published in their latest document 178 different ways in which the Community has helped this country since we entered the Common Market; and would the noble Lord agree that those 178 ways are accurate in so far as the loans and grants are concerned? It seems to me that this should be publicised to the maximum. Further, could the noble Lord say that the Government will confirm what the European Movement have already put forward?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I am acquainted with the document in question. I speak for Her Majesty's Government, not for the European Movement.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, which part of Her Majesty's Government?