HC Deb 13 February 1962 vol 653 cc126-8W
45. Mr. Walker

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a statement giving the effects of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community upon our existing Monopolies and Restrictive Practices legislation in order that British industrialists may find out whether or not our entry will result in the existing legislation becoming ineffective.

Mr. N. Macpherson

I cannot add at this stage to the answer which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East on 28th November. We are studying the Regulations governing competition agreed in December by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community; but the subject is complex and it will take a little time to assess the possible effects on our domestic legislation.

60. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the percentage increases in United Kingdom exports to the Common Market for the latest period for which figures are available; and what are the comparative figures of the Common Market countries exports to other Common Market countries on the basis of information supplied to him in the course of Her Majesty's Government's current negotiations for entry into the Common Market.

Sir K. Joseph

Details of the United Kingdom's exports to the Common Market are available from the Trade and Navigation Accounts and are summarised in the Report on Overseas Trade. Details of intra-Common Market trade are available from Foreign Trade Monthly Statistics published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

61. Sir C. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has now received in the course of Her Majesty's negotiations with the Common Market countries of their manufacturing prices, their wage rates, and their food costs, respectively; how these compare with the corresponding British prices, wages and costs; and what estimate he now makes, on the basis of the known factors, of the effect on the British industrial workers' standard of living of British entry into the Common Market.

Sir K. Joseph

Such comparisons have not been made during the negotiations. Prices and wage rates in different countries are published. The Government believe that membership on mutually satisfactory terms offers every prospect of our sharing fully in a generally rising standard of living.