§ 80. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement has been reached by Her Majesty's Government with the members of the European Economic Community regarding the continuance of the historic rights to fish in certain coastal waters within the United Kingdom's territorial waters enjoyed by certain countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponI would refer the hon. Member to the eighth and ninth paragraphs of my statement of 13th December.—[Vol. 828, c. 51–2.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the countries of the Six where the carrying of identity cards is legally compulsory; and whether he will give an assurance that on entry into the European Economic Community he will oppose the imposition of such arrangements in Great Britain.
§ Mr. RipponNationals of Belgium, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg are obliged by their respective laws to carry identity cards. There is no statutory requirement for Dutch or French nationals to do so.
Her Majesty's Government have no intention of instituting, a compulsory national identity card for travel or any other purpose.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that Great Britain will not sign the Treaty of Accession on entry into the European Economic Community until such time as there has been an agreement on the dispute with the Six on the question of the use of female hops in the manufacture of beer.
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§ Mr. RipponWe expect to sign the Treaty of Accession on 22nd January.
The Community has given us the specific assurance that we will be fully consulted about the application to the United Kingdom of the draft regulation on hops at present under consideration.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that exclusion of Israel from the benefits of the generalised preferences scheme will cause great difficulties to that country and to Great Britain's trade with that country and put at a great disadvantage their respective exports; and whether, during negotiations on the Treaty of Accession, he will endeavour to have Israel granted the same preferences as the enlarged Community of ten and similar treatment to Mexico, Greece and North Africa, in the interests of British trade with Israel.
§ Mr. RipponWhile I am conscious of Israel's concern over the Generalised Preference Scheme, it would have been inappropriate to have discussed this question during the negotiations for Britain's entry to the European Communities.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the fact that the Common Market Commission have now issued a report showing that production and exports of the countries of the Six are falling off, and that 1972 is expected to see a worsening of this trend, whether he will arrange to obtain copies of this report and circulate them to Members of Parliament before signing the Treaty of Accession to the Rome Treaty.
§ Mr. RipponCopies of an English translation of the First Annual Report on the Economic Situation of the Community have been placed in the Libraries of Parliament.