§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the declarations made at the meeting of Heads of EEC Governments in Dublin in March concerning New Zealand's access for dairy products and the budget adjustment mechanism are legally binding; whether they are subject to a proposal from the Commission; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HattersleyAgreements of principle on these matters were reached at the Heads of Government meeting in Dublin in March. These are firm political decisions, though they require to be made into formal legal instruments. The Commission is now preparing proposals to give effect to them for submission to the Council of Ministers.