§ Mr. RankinQ. 17. asked the Prime Minister what increase in the cost of living and what effect on the balance 255W of payments will result if the United Kingdom enters the Common Market.
§ Mr. RichardQ. 19. asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's estimate of the rise in the cost of living which will occur if Great Britain becomes a full member of the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friends to the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 10th November last to which, as yet, I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 735, c. 1537.]
§ Q18. Mr. Richardasked the Prime Minister what is the Government's estimate of the additional exchange cost to Great Britain arising from a free capital market if Great Britain becomes a full member of the European Economic Community.
§ The Prime MinisterEstimates of this kind depend on the detailed assumptions on which they are based and the range of possible assumptions is wide. It would be misleading therefore for me to give an estimate which might gain currency as an authoritative assessment out of the context in which it was framed.