HC Deb 01 February 1968 vol 757 cc387-9W
Mr. Roebuck

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much he intends to spend over the next six months on purposes designed to secure a climate favourable to the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Mulley

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary told my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on 18th December, 1967—[Vol. 756, c. 280.]—the presentation of the British case on entry into the Common Market is part of the normal overseas information effort. Its cost cannot be separately identified

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many civil servants in his Department have been engaged in dealing with matters concerned with proposed entry by the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Mulley

A large proportion of the staff of the Foreign Office has been engaged from time to time in dealing with matters concerned with our proposed entry into the European Economic Communities; in recent months the number of staff actually engaged full-time on this work has been twenty-four.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what public funds have been placed at the disposal of non-Government organisations for the purpose of supplementing the activities of members of the Government in connection with the proposed entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Mulley

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer which my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 20th November, 1967.—[Vol. 754, c. 231-2.] In addition to the grants made to various organisations outside the Government, details of which were given in my hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West on 11th December 1967—[Vol. 756, c. 21–2]—it is proposed to increase the grant to Britain in Europe to £7,500 for the current year. A further £5,000 for this purpose will be included in the Supplementary Estimates to be submitted to the House shortly.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the countries in the European Economic Community who supported the position of the United Kingdom at the general meeting of the United Nations on the subject of the referendum on Gibraltar.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands abstained on the Resolution. Italy voted in favour of it.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total amount of expenditure incurred by the establishment of headquarters in Brussels in connection with proposed British association with the European Economic Community.

Mr. Mulley

I would refer my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 15th December, 1967.—[Vol. 756, c. 259.] The actual cost of recent reinforcements to the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Economic Communities amounted to £8,010.