§ 3. Mr. Barnesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the British Mission to the European Communities in Brussels during the first half of 1970.
§ Mr. George ThomsonMy right hon. Friend and I are in constant touch with the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Communities during visits to Brussels and through the normal channels.
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§ 58. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with regard to Great Britain's application for membership of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier to the right hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton).
§ 67. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the official proposal under consideration by the European Economic Community for endowing the Parliament of an enlarged European Community, including Great Britain, with power to increase the central expenditures of the Community.
§ Mr. George ThomsonWe have noted the decision of principle by the Six to enhance the rôle of the European Parliament. I would remind the hon. Member of the Government's view, set out in the Anglo/Italian Declaration signed at the conclusion of President Saragat's State Visit last year, that
Europe must be firmly based on democratic institutions and the European Communities should be sustained by an elected Parliament, as provided for in the Treaty of Rome".
§ 73. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library of the House a transcript of all proposals and statements made since 1st January by Ministers or representatives of his Department, attending conferences or negotiations on behalf of the Government, concerning British adherence to the European Economic Community and possible participation in any form of politically unified structure in Europe.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe Government's views on these matters are well known and have been made clear on numerous occasions. The texts of important public statements made abroad are usually placed in the Library of the House. If there is any particular on-the-record statement which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind that is not available in the Library of the House, I should be happy to arrange for this to happen.
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§ Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library of the House a transcript of his request for assurances on Friday, 9th January, in regard to the consideration of British interests in decisions by the Six on political co-operation, together with the replies thereto of the five nations present at the meeting of Western European Union.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI would refer to the reply which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary gave to the right hon. Gentleman on 19th January, and to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave him in answer to his supplementary question on 20th January.—[Vol. 794, c. 22–3, 252–3.]