§ 75. Mr. Bessellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, without prejudice to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community, he will authorise a full examination of the proposals to create an open ended Free Trade Area comprising initially the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and the European Free Trade Area countries.
§ Mr. MulleyNo. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to Questions on the 21st March, there is no evidence that a North Atlantic Free Trade Area is a realistic present alternative to membership of the European Economic Community. In these circumstances the diversion of resources to a major feasibility study could not be justified.—[Vol. 761, c. 596–9.]