HC Deb 07 December 1970 vol 808 cc1-10W
44. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further talks he is having with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Economic Community states with a view to closer political unity in Europe.

Mr. Rippon

Her Majesty's Government participated in the meeting of Ministers of the Six Community countries and the four applicants in Brussels on 2nd December at which they were represented by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. We will be happy to take part in future similar meetings.

45. Mr. Milne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a White Paper on the economic assessment of the effects on the European Free Trade Association arising from Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community, in view of the recent decision of the Swedish Government not to apply for entry to that organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rippon

No. Her Majesty's Government subscribes to the communique issued at the end of the E.F.T.A. Ministerial meeting in November which reaffirmed and emphasised members' strong interest in safeguarding as an important part of an enlarged Community the free trade area already established between E.F.T.A. countries. Sweden's future relationship with the European Economic Community is a matter for the Swedish Government.

51. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means the Government propose to consult the public in due course as to whether or not the United Kingdom should join the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

The Government have a clear mandate to pursue their negotiations for satisfactory terms for entry into the European Communities. If the negotiations succeed and if Parliament is invited to approve an instrument of Accession to the Treaties of the Communities, all aspects of the matter will be the subject of full consideration and discussion in Parliament.

56. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made since Saturday, 14th November, for him to arrange a referendum on whether or not Great Britain should enter the Common Market; and what was the nature of his reply.

Mr. Rippon

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of letters about a referendum on Britain's entry into the European Communities. We have replied that Her Majesty's Government have a clear mandate from Parliament for pursuing the negotiations. A referendum would not be consistent with constitutional practice.

59. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the need to consult public opinion on the question of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will move to appoint a Select Committee to study methods of ascertaining public opinion.

Mr. Rippon

No.

63. Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the concept of political unity in Western Europe.

Mr. Rippon

The Government's policy on political unity in Western Europe was set out in the opening statement to the European Communities on 30th June by my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. This statement was presented to Parliament as Command Paper 4401.

65. Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position reached in negotiations with the European Economic Community in relation to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.

Mr. Rippon

We have received the Commission's observations on the factual paper on sugar which we had submitted earlier, and we have submitted proposals to deal with the question of exports of sugar by members of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.

68. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has now received from the New Zealand Government arising out of the latest European Economic Community negotiations.

Mr. Rippon

We are in close and continuing touch with the Government of New Zealand about Britain's negotiations for entry into the European Communities. Mr. Marshall, the deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, paid a further visit to London 10 days ago and had discussions with me and with a number of my Ministerial colleagues.

73. Miss Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, if those Commonwealth citizens wishing to be included as community workers will have to renounce their own citizenship and become citizens of Great Britain;

(2) whether the matter of which categories of overseas workers in Great Britain would be eligible for free movement of labour within European Economic Community countries should Great Britain become a member has yet been discussed in Brussels, and with what outcome.

Mr. Rippon

Discussions with the Communities on the subject of free movement of labour are not complete.

76. Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the constitutional position of Parliament in the event of Great Britain becoming a full member of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

The legal and constitutional implications of membership of the European Communities, including the implications for Parliament, were examined in a White Paper (Cmnd. 3301) presented to Parliament in May, 1967.

78. Mr. Marquand

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the member Governments of the European Economic Community about the proposal for a European economic and monetary union.

Mr. Rippon

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Stepney (Mr. Shore).

79. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will issue a simplified guide to the political implications of joining the Common Market and make it widely available, free of charge, through post offices and other public agencies.

Mr. Rippon

Her Majesty's Government keep constantly under review the means of keeping the public fully informed on this as on other questions connected with our application for membership of the European Communities.

80. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the documents submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the European Economic Community since 5th June last, distinguishing between those of which the content or existence have been disclosed to Parliament and those which have not.

Mr. Rippon

The proposals submitted to the conference with the European Communities are confidential negotiating documents. I make regular statements to the House on the subjects and the main terms of the proposals that we are discussing. For me to reveal more about the documents submitted would be inimical to the confidentiality and effectiveness of the negotiations.

84. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call a halt to negotiations for entry into the Common Market, in view of the evidence contained in the Report of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Mr. Rippon

No. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research is an unofficial body. The evidence referred to is the sole responsibility of the authors of the report.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is giving consideration to the importance to Northern Ireland of the Safeguarding of Employment Act (Northern Ireland), 1947, in negotiations with the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

The Government of Northern Ireland are in touch with us on this point.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs whether he will published in the OFFICIAL REPORT or place in the Library the text of the official speech by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster made in Paris on Wednesday, 18th November, to the effect that Great Britain would modify her membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance for a joint European defence system so as to facilitate British entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

I have placed my speech in the Library of the House. There is no reference in it to any modification of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for a joint European defence system so as to facilitate British entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the warning officially issued by the West German Government on Thursday, 19th November, that they will hold up negotiations on Great Britain's application to enter the Common Market unless Her Majesty's Government promises to give money towards the United States' defence costs in Europe; and what response he has made to these demands.

Mr. Rippon

The Federal German Government have stated that there is no occasion for any fear that the question of burden sharing could have adverse effects on Britain's negotiations for membership of the European Communities.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, the copy of the Anti-Common Market League's pamphlet, "Joining the Common Market or What the Treaty of Rome Means", and, in view of the Government's declared policy of having public discussion on this subject, if he will arrange for a similar type of document to be published on a cost sale to the public.

Mr. Rippon

I have received the pamphlet from the hon. Member. My colleagues and I make frequent statements to the House, and speeches, which serve the purpose of keeping the public informed about the progress of the negotiations and the implications of membership. Her Majesty's Government keep constantly under review the question of how best to make further information available to the public. There is already a substantial volume of material available from private organisations and from the Information Office of the European Communities. I do not see any need to issue the type of document suggested.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when negotiations on the position of Commonwealth citizens are expected to begin in Brussels.

Mr. Rippon

I cannot anticipate the timetable for discussions in Brussels on particular issues.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has during the current negotiations to secure democratic election of persons from the United Kingdom for the European Parliament by universal franchise if Great Britain becomes a member of the European Economic Community; and whether he will place such plans in the House of Commons Library;

(2) whether, during the present negotiations for Great Britain's entry into European Economic Community he will make it a condition that before Great Britain will consider any terms of entry any Consultative Assembly must be democratically elected by the peoples of the member countries of the European Economic Community instead of consisting of nominated persons as is now the case with the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Rippon

This subject is not one for discussion in the present negotiations.

Article 138 of the Treaty of Rome provides that the Assembly (known as the European Parliament) shall draw up proposals for elections by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedure in all Member States. But it would be premature for Her Majesty's Government to seek to make proposals.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the last ministerial negotiating session under the chairmanship of the West German representative in Brussels this year is likely to take place; on what date in January the chairmanship will b taken over by the French representative; and on what grounds the French have declared their intentions of hardening their attitude to Great Britain's application for entry to the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

The last ministerial negotiating meeting this year between the United Kingdom and the European Communities takes place tomorrow. The dates of future meetings will be decided then. The French representative will assume the chairmanship of the conference on 1st January. I am not aware of any French declaration of the kind referred to by the hon. Member.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the proposed farm price increases in the Common Market countries of 10 per cent. for livestock, 6 per cent. for certain dairy products and 5 per cent. for some cereals, details of which are known to him, would raise the levies Great Britain would have to pay on entering the Common Market.

Mr. Rippon

I have no official knowledge of proposed farm price increases in the Communities. It would be premature to estimate the effects of any increases.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he accepts the conclusions of the report of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research as published in its November Review, a copy of which has been sent to him, on matters connected with Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

No. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research is not an official body. The views expressed in its report are the sole responsibility of its authors.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during the present negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will seek to arrange for a group of hon. Members from the House of Commons to attend as observers at the negotiations in Brussels, such group to consist of one-third from those who oppose entry, one-third in favour, and one-third who have not so far declared their views on this subject.

Mr. Rippon

No.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the need for continuing arrangements, subject to the review, for New Zealand dairy products when the United Kingdom enters an enlarged Community, he will oppose suggestions by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers that after the end of a transition period the problem of New Zealand dairy products can be dealt with solely by means of an international agreement on dairy products.

Mr. Anthony Royle

With regard to New Zealand exports of dairy products to an enlarged Community, we have asked for some form of continuing arrangements, subject to review, in order that we may assess the position as we go along. We now await the Community's reactions to our proposals on which it would be premature to speculate at this stage.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government's proposals to deal with the problems of New Zealand exports of dairy products, as part of the negotiations with the European Economic Community Council of Ministers, were first discussed and agreed with the New Zealand Government.

Mr. Anthony Royle

Her Majesty's Government are, and have been, in close and continuing touch with the New Zealand Government on this matter. In putting forward our proposals to the European Communities, the views of the New Zealand Government were taken fully into account.

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next statement on the Common Market negotiations will be made to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster following his Ministerial meeting with the Six on 8th December.

Mr. Rippon

I hope to make a statement on Thursday, 10th December.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the negotiations for the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community, he will seek to ensure the continuation of the United Kingdom hill sheep and hill cow subsidies so as to provide income support for hill and upland producers.

Mr. Anthony Royle

My right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster informed the representatives of the European Communities in Brussels on 21st July that we would wish to discuss with the Community the provision of assistance to United Kingdom farmers.

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of Great Britain joining the Common Market, the Government will support the endowing of the European Parliament with powers to decide matters of European policy which are before it for debate by a majority vote.

Mr. Rippon

It would be premature for me to make commitments about Her Majesty's Government's attitude to the procedures of the European Parliament, which are matters for the Parliament itself, until a decision is reached on Her Majesty's Government's accession to the Treaty of Rome.