§ 61. Mr. Ronald King Murrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement 241W has been reached on fisheries between the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community relating to the situation where no common fisheries policy is agreed in 1982; and, in particular, whether it has been agreed that each country will, in that event, revert to its pre-existing fishery limits, or that the 10-year fisheries policy will continue indefinitely, or that the present European Economic Community common fisheries regulations in force will revive.
§ Mr. RipponThe details of the agreement on arrangements for fisheries were set out in my statement on 13th December, and fully explained to the House in the debate on 16th December. [Vol. 828, c. 51–4, c. 725–37.]
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further exchanges have taken place in the Brussels Conference on the subject of the European Coal and Steel Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponAs I told the House on 24th June we were able at Luxembourg to settle the major issues concerning the Coal and Steel Community. But certain points were left over for the Deputies. They have now been able to settle the question of provision for our membership of the European Coal and Steel Community Consultative Committee, of the submission of agreements to the Commission under Article 65 of the Treaty of Paris, of the inclusion of a safeguard clause in the Treaty of Accession on the lines of Articles 2(4) of the Transitional Provisions Convention of the Treaty of Paris and of the establishment of half-yearly tariff quotas for steel imports into the enlarged Community. The Community have also notified us, and we have accepted, that the agreement between the British Steel Corporation, the British Independent Steel Producers' Association and the British Scrap Federation should lapse as from the date of our accession.—[Vol. 819, c. 1604–10.]
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes that Great Britain should contribute to the European Economic Communities' budget for nuclear research, at present totalling £100,000,000; and whether Great 242W Britain's contribution to this budget will be in addition to the expenditure already being undertaken in this country on the same objects.
§ Mr. RipponThe arrangements for financing the Communities' expenditure including the budget for nuclear research and investment were set out in paragraphs 91 to 96 and Annex A of the White Paper, The United Kingdom and the European Communities—Cmnd. 4715. The Euratom research and investment programme in 1971 together totalled £28 million as is made clear in Annex A. paragraph 6 of the White Paper.
The Communities' future research programme is currently being discussed by the Council of Ministers and the United Kingdom will be fully consulted under the arrangements described in paragraph 76 of the White Paper to ensure that due account is taken of our interests.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes further expenditure on publicity in favour of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community; how much further expenditure is planned; and for what precise purpose.
§ Mr. RipponNo such further expenditure is proposed at present.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether proposals for safeguarding the interests of Commonwealth sugar producers have yet been put forward by the European Economic Community; and, in particular, whether there are plans for sugar beet production within the Community to be reduced.
§ Mr. RipponThe European Economic Community's proposals for Commonwealth sugar after 1974 were set out in my statements of 17th May and 9th June
Sugar beet production in the Community is restricted by quota until the end of 1974. We will participate as a member of the enlarged Community in re-negotiating arrangements for 1975 onwards.—[Vol. 817, c. 885–6; Vol. 818, c. 1043].
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 243W what discussions he has held with Ministers of the European Economic Community about the extension of co-operation in economic and other fields to the countries of Eastern Europe.
§ Mr. RipponEast-West relations were among the subjects discussed by the Ten Foreign Ministers at the meeting my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary attended in Rome on 6th November.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now publish the most recent estimate of the rise in the cost of living of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, using as the basis the known prices of the commodities as used in his cost of living index figure in Great Britain, compared with the prices charged for such items within the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI have been asked to reply.
The latest official estimate of the effect of entry on the cost of living is set out in paragraph 88 of the White Paper "The United Kingdom and the European Communities" (Cmnd. 4715).