HC Deb 06 July 1970 vol 803 cc4-5W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will state the Government's policy with regard to Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and whether he will state the minimum and maximum conditions necessary before Her Majesty's Government will agree upon entry into the European Economic Community;

(2) whether he will make a statement on the commencement of the negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and whether he will publish as a White Paper the text of the speech made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at Luxembourg on Tuesday, 30th June;

(3) whether he will give the entry terms of acceptance by Her Majesty's Government for entering into the European Economic Community so far as economic and monetary union is concerned, the introduction of a common European currency and what rôle sterling will have in these arrangements;

(4) whether he will state in detail the entry terms for Great Britain into the Common Market which Her Majesty's Government will accept so far as farm finance, sugar agreements with the Commonwealth and Caribbean, New Zealand dairy exports and African countries association with the European Economic Community are concerned.

Mr. Barber

As I made clear in my speech in Luxembourg on 30th June, Her Majesty's Government's policy is to seek full membership of the European Communities. Our position on terms of entry was set out in my speech which has been laid before the House as Command Paper 4401. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made plain in Paris on 5th May that we seek entry on terms which are tolerable in the short term and clearly and visibly beneficial in the long term.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that, during his negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will make the retention of the present system of imperial preference a prerequisite for Great Britain's consideration of the terms of entry.

Mr. Barber

No.

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