§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British entry to the European Economic Community will not result in the re-erection of tariff barriers against member countries of the European Free Trade Association which either have not sought membership of the European Economic Community or which may fail to gain it.
§ Mr. RipponThe communiqué issued after the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Council meeting on 5th and 6th November in Geneva, which I attended, reaffirmed members' strong interest in safeguarding as an important part of an enlarged Community, the free market already established in E.F.T.A.
The full text of the communiqué was as follows:
The E.F.T.A. Council and the Joint Council of E.F.T.A. and Finland met at Ministerial level in Geneva on 5th and 6th November, 1970, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kjell-Olof Feldt, Sweden's Minister of Commerce.In a review of current activities of the Association, Ministers noted that E.F.T.A.'s trade had continued to grow in the first half of the year, and that further progress had been made towards the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade. They welcomed in particular the signing of the convention on inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing, which should provide a stimulus to trade and which is open to the participation of other countries. They expressed the hope that the convention would be ratified as soon as possible by all E.F.T.A. countries.E.F.T.A. Ministers, with the Finnish representative taking part in a personal capacity, had a full discussion of the prospects of achieving wider European integration. They expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved so far in the negotiations between the European Communities and the three E.F.T.A. countries which had applied for membership, and with the fact that all the other E.F.T.A. countries would start their discussions in Brussels this month.Ministers welcomed the fact that following the opening of negotiations for accession on 30th June, 1970, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities stated that the Community considers it desirable that agreements with the various E.F.T.A. countries should come into force at the same time. This indeed corresponded with the conviction of E.F.T.A. Ministers recorded in their last communiqué, the full terms of which they reaffirmed. Ministers emphasised their strong interest in safeguarding, as an important 119W part of an enlarged European Community, the free trade already established between E.F.T.A. countries. They declared that they would continue to work towards this end.Ministers noted that, with the starting of negotiations and discussions between all E.F.T.A. countries and the Communities, the procedure on which they had already agreed for a continuous exchange of information and for consultation would come fully into effect.Ministers have repeatedly stressed their determination to do all they can, in G.A.T.T. and elsewhere, to ensure that the momentum of world trade liberalisation should be maintained. At their present meeting they expressed their concern regarding recent developments that could lead to the introduction of new restrictions on trade. They emphasised the importance for the world economy of liberal trade policies which have played, and still play, a prime rôle in assuring economic growth in all parts of the world. Ministers continued to give their full support to the work being done in G.A.T.T. in this context. They also noted with satisfaction the results recently achieved on the establishment of a generalised scheme of preferences for the benefit of the developing countries, and emphasised the necessity of settling at an early date the points that are still open. They expressed their determination to undertake the necessary steps for the early implementation of the scheme.On the invitation of the Government of Iceland, the next Ordinary Meeting of the Councils at ministerial level will be held in Reykjavik on 12th and 13th May, 1971.
§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an undertaking that the first public announcement of the final results of Great Britain's European Economic Community negotiations will be made to the House of Commons.
§ Mr. RipponIt is too early to foresee the mechanics of an announcement of the final results, but I shall certainly take the earliest opportunity of presenting them to the House.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the main factors which led him to conclude that six years was the right period for the transitional period for agriculture in the Government's application to join the Common Market.
§ Mr. RipponIn the negotiations on transitional arrangements for agriculture we are taking into account all the relevant factors, including food prices, agricultural prices and trade in agricultural produce.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 120W Affairs why it is inappropriate for him to publish material in his possession on the implications for Commonwealth producers and the Commonwealth primary producers of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community and his estimate of the extent to which the loss of Commonwealth exports to Great Britain of primary exports will entail the loss of ancillary manufactured items and factories for the manufacture of goods such as lorries, canning factories, etc.
§ Mr. RipponIt would be inappropriate for me to publish material from an outside source which is already available to the public.
At this stage any estimates of the extent of changes in exports from Commonwealth countries to the United Kingdom in the event of Britain entering the European Communities must be speculative. Calculation of any consequent reduction in Britain's exports to Commonwealth countries would be even more speculative.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he considers it inappropriate at this stage to publish a Government White Paper on the estimated cost of British entry into the European Economic Community in view of his estimate of a cost of £573 million submitted to the Common Market Commission on 30th July; and when such a White Paper will be appropriate.
§ Mr. RipponIf there is to be confidence between the parties in the negotiations between Britain and the European Communities, the proceedings must remain confidential. I shall be reporting regularly to the House on the progress of the negotiations. In answer to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c.258–9.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a further statement and whether he will then give details of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's world tour and of his consultations with Australian and New Zealand Ministers on Great Britain's negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community.
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§ Mr. RipponI expect to make a further statement on Britain's negotiations for entry into the European Communities when the progress of the negotiations justifies it. In relation to my visit to Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, I have nothing to add to my statement of 29th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 439–41.]