HC Deb 06 June 1957 vol 571 cc125-6W
57. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister whether the President of the Board of Trade's speech to the Common- wealth Chambers of Commerce concerning the European Common Market on 27th May last, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

58. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the President of the Board of Trade at the Federation of Commonwealth and British Empire Chambers of Commerce in London on 27th May, referring to the relationships between the United Kingdom and the European Common Market, represents the policy of the Government.

Mr. Paget

59, 60 and 61. asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the statement by the President of the Board of Trade, made in London on 27th May, regarding Great Britain's attitude to the European Free Trade Area in the light of her historical policy and the position of Germany vis-à-vis this country, represents the policy of the Government;

(2) what reply has been sent to the official request of the French Government for an explanation of the speech by the President of the Board of Trade on 27th May relating to the European Free Trade Area;

(3) what reply has been sent to the official request of the West German Government for an explanation of the speech by the President of the Board of Trade on 27th May relating to the European Free Trade Area.

The Prime Minister

I have seen the reports of my right hon. Friend's speech. As I explained on Tuesday, the tenor of the speech was to try to show that while, on the one hand, we wished well to the Common Market as a movement towards European unity, on the other hand, if it were not accompanied by a Free Trade Area, it would tend to divide Europe rather than to unite it. An explanation in this sense has been given to the French Government, who expressed themselves as fully satisfied. No inquiry has been received from the Federal German Government.

There are copies of a full report of the speech in the Library of the House.