§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from information available from international sources, which of the members of the European Economic Community have housing shortages; what effect their membership of the European Economic Community has had on such problems; and what estimate he has made of the effect of United Kingdom membership on housing shortages in this country.
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§ Mr. RipponMembership of the European Economic Community has no direct effect on the national housing policies of member States and there is no evidence that membership of the Communities has had any adverse effect on moves to remedy housing shortages in the Six. The Communities have made available low interest loans to assist the financing of over 100,000 houses for coal and steel workers. In general countries in the Six spend more per head on housing than is the case in the United Kingdom. It is not anticipated that membership of the Communities would adversely affect the housing situation in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from information available from international sources, which of the countries of the European Economic Community pursue policies of preservation and conservation of the environment; and whether such policies are comparable with those of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. RipponAll members of the European Economic Community pursue policies of preservation and conservation of the environment. These policies have similar objectives to those of Her Majesty's Government but are of course related to the particular environmental conditions prevailing in individual member States.
§ Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the members of the European Economic Community have a joint policy to tackle pollution; and what amendments in United Kingdom law in this regard would necessarily follow from accession to this Community.
§ Mr. RipponThe Community has agreed to take steps to harmonise future legislative policies on pollution control relating to a large number of consumer products, vehicles and capital goods and has so far approved directives on vehicle noise and air pollution from motor vehicles. The legislative changes which would be required in this respect in the event of the United Kingdom joining the Communities are under study.
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§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the entry of Great Britain into the European Economic Community will affect the limits of territorial waters claimed by the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RipponEntry into the European Communities will not affect the delimitation of British territorial waters.
§ Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultations he has had with governments in the European Economic Community countries about standardising laws on the protection of birds and animals in line with British practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponI have had no consultations with member Governments of the European Economic Community on this subject. There are points arising from the European Economic Community directives on animal health to be discussed with the Community in the context of the entry negotiations.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has to increase the United Kingdom offer of 3 per cent. as its initial contribution to the cost of the European Economic Community budget.
§ Mr. RipponWe must await the Community's reaction to our proposals.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional burden on the United Kingdom balance of payments will be involved as a result of the recent decision by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers to raise agricultural prices in the next two years.
§ Mr. RipponWhile the increase in agricultural prices in the Community would lead to an increase in the cost of our agricultural imports in the event of our joining the Communities, this would be offset by a fall in the volume of these imports as a result of marginal changes in United Kingdom output and consumption.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 263W Affairs, whether he will seek to arrange with other applicant countries for membership of the European Economic Community an international referendum on entry, when the terms are known, for the guidance of the respective national parliaments.
§ Mr. RipponNo.