§ Mr. Stonehouseasked the Lord Privy Seal what estimate he has made of the extent to which trade agreements with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be affected if Britain accepts the Treaty of Rome; and whether he has requested that Britain retains the freedom to make such agreements in view of their importance in assisting Britain's export drive.
§ Mr. HeathThis is not a matter for settlement in the negotiations. Each member of the European Economic Community at present retains the right to make bilateral trade arrangements with Sovietbloc countries. The Treaty of Rome envisages the development of a common policy for trade with third countries and, as a member of the Community, the United Kingdom would play a full part in the formulation of such a policy. It is not, however, possible at this stage to forecast the effect of our accession on trade with individual third countries.