§ 53. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek a simple affirmative or negative answer from the European Community Commission and member States to the question whether British entry into the European Economic Community will require acceptance of the Common Agricultural Policy with no significant modifications; and whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to continue to seek entry without such modifications.
§ Mr. Luard:No. Her Majesty's Government's position on this matter is quite clear, and is well known to the commission and to the member States of the European Economic Community. The questions relating to agriculture which we should wish to see resolved in negotiations were set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. George Brown), the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in his statement at the meeting of the Council of Western European Union at The Hague on 4th July, 1967, which has been published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 3345).
§ Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, before the end of the present Parliament, he will clarify the basic conditions upon which British entry to the European Economic Community would have to depend; and whether he will publish his latest information on these conditions shortly before that time.
§ Mr. Luard:The basic condition upon which British entry to the European Economic Community would have to depend is the negotiation of terms fair for all those concerned. The House has been assured on several occasions that when negotiations are concluded the terms achieved in the course of them will be submitted for the consideration of the House before a final decision is taken on entry.