§ 83. Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Technology whether he will seek to call a conference of leading Europeans to discuss the setting up of a European Technology Community.
§ Mr. BennVarious possible ways of strengthening technological collaboration within Europe have been discussed on a number of occasions over the last two years. The Anglo-French aspects of this were discussed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister with President de Gaulle last year. More recently proposals by the Italian Government have been received. While there are no current arrangements for a formal conference the concept of a technological community is under active study and the issues involved are a matter for the forthcoming discussions between my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and our European partners.