§ 26. Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he expects to make in the Common Market negotiations at the May meetings; and how, given satisfactory future progress, he envisages the approximate timetable until the United Kingdom is able to join the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe have suggested to the Community that it is entirely reasonable and possible that we should reach agreement on the main issues at or shortly after the Ministerial meetings on 11th and 12th May. If the back of the negotiations is successfully broken by the end of the summer, and subject to the approval of this House, the Treaty of Accession might be ready for signature by January, 1972, and enter into effect, after ratification, by January, 1973.
§ 27. Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake to issue a White Paper on the progress of the Common Market negotiations before July, setting out the advantages of joining the European Economic Community if equitable terms be obtained.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleNo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy has made regular statements in this House on the progress of the negotiations. Her Majesty's Government are also issuing Factsheets about the negotiations for entry and about the implications for us if we join the Communities.
§ 28. Mr. Selwyn Gummerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the negotiations for the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community are successful on other terms, whether Her Majesty's Government will accept the principles of the European Development Fund; and what change in the level of United Kingdom aid overseas they expect to flow from that decision.
§ Mr. WoodAs a member of the enlarged Community, Britain would natur-330W ally expect to be discussing in 1973 a new association arrangement, to succeed the Yaoundé Convention. This would probably involve a British contribution to a fourth European Development Fund. Such a contribution would fall within the levels of the official aid programme, as determined in advance, in the course of the annual reviews of public expenditure.
§ 29. Mr. Selwyn Gummerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the communication received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics relating to Great Britain's negotiations to join the European Economic Community; and what view is expressed.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe have received no communication from the Soviet Government about our negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community.
§ 35. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of Her Majesty's Government being unable to obtain satisfactory terms of entry into the European Economic Community, he will lay before Parliament a White Paper setting out the circumstances of this failure.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe do not anticipate failure.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Great Britain's policy on the question of the status of sterling as placed on the agenda at the Brussels discussions held on Thursday, 18th March.
§ Mr. RipponI have nothing to add to what I said on sterling in the debate in this House on 21st January and in answer to Questions on 22nd March. The discussions on this subject in Brussels on 18th March took place in a meeting of the Permanent Representatives to the European Economic Community, the proceedings of which were confidential.—[Vol. 809, c. 1405–6; Vol. 814, c. 6–8.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent during the present negotiations in Brussels for Great 331W Britain's entry into the European Economic Community the French are still persisting in their demand that Great Britain cannot join the European Economic Community as long as sterling is retained as a world reserve currency; and what is Her Majesty's Government's attitude to this demand.
§ Mr. RipponHer Majesty's Government are negotiating with the Communities and not with individual member Governments. In the opening statement on 30th June last year on behalf of the Communities reference was made to discussions with the United Kingdom on certain special questions relating to economic monetary and financial problems. There is nothing new or surprising in a member State raising questions in this field. I have at present nothing to add to what I said on sterling in the debate in this House on 21st January, and in answer to Questions on 22nd March.—[Vol. 809, c. 1405–6; Vol. 814, c. 6–8]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received the counter offer from the countries of the Six to Great Britain's offer of 3 per cent. towards the Community budget; to what extent at the forthcoming discussions, to be held in May, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to improve their offer; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponNo. We await the Community's reaction to our proposals.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during the forthcoming discussions to be held in May with representatives of the Six, he will invite representatives from the Commonwealth countries to be affected by the negotiations to attend in an advisory and consultative capacity.
§ Mr. RipponNo. The negotiations are between Her Majesty's Government and the European Communities. Her Majesty's Government remain in the closest touch with their Commonwealth partners.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the new proposals to increase food prices in the Euro- 332W pean Economic Community by a further 10 per cent., he will reconsider Her Majesty's Government's policy of using the Post Office for distributing literature in favour of United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponNo. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. David Stoddart) on 24th March.—[Vol. 814, c. 138–9.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received a communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, sent under the date of 5th April, together with the April 1971 Newsletter from the Anti-Common Market League; what was the nature of this newsletter; and what was the nature of his reply.
§ Mr. RipponI received this letter on 6th April. The newsletter contained references to points arising in the United Kingdom's negotiations with the European Economic Community, to food prices, and to a referendum on entry. As the hon. Member will be aware, my letter date 14th April provided a point-by-point reply.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the European Movement and/or its predecessors received grants-in-aid of £2,500 per annum from 1964 to 1967 and £7,500 per annum subsequently, why he will not make similar grants available to the Keep Britain Out of Europe Committee.
§ Mr. RipponThe Government cannot be expected to provide grants for an organisation whose declared aim is to oppose a major objective of Government policy.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the wage increases in 1970 of 14 per cent. on average in the European Economic Community, 18 per cent. in Italy, and 15 per cent. in Germany, which, if harmonised with United Kingdom wage rates, would accelerate the rate of inflation, why he will not withdraw the application to join the European Economic Community.
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§ Mr. RipponThere is no provision in Community legislation for the harmonisation of pay settlements or wage rates, and I see no reason on these or other grounds for the withdrawal of our application to join the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in addition to the grant-in-aid of £7,500 per annum, he gives help and support to the European Movement, in particular by information for its publicity in the national Press; and whether he will afford the same facilities to the Keep Britain Out Committee.
§ Mr. RipponThe European Movement, in common with many individuals and organisations holding differing views on Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, writes to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with requests for information relating to our negotiations for entry to the European Communities. Every effort is made to reply to such letters.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, requesting detailed answers to a number of queries concerning the effects of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on any known terms; when the hon. Member may expect his reply to this communication; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponYes. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State replied on 15th April, providing detailed answers in a form suitable for transmission to the hon. Member's constituents.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during Great Britain's negotiations with the European Economic Community on possible terms of entry, he will request the countries of the Six to contribute towards the costs of protection of the sea routes from the Far East and round the Cape of Good Hope, which are now being borne by British public funds.
§ Mr. RipponNo.
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§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will obtain during Her Majesty's Government's negotiations in Brussels particulars from the countries of the Six of the extent and limits of state insurance schemes and private insurance and publish these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT, together with an estimate of how the British insurance industry will be affected on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on known terms of entry.
§ Mr. RipponIf in the first part of his Question the hon. Member has in mind Community legislation in the field of insurance, the Community has agreed one directive relating to re-insurance which would be acceptable to British insurance. The Commission of the Communities is also preparing draft directives on other insurance matters, including freedom of establishment in non-life insurance.
We are studying the implications of these draft directives for the British insurance industry and are in touch with British insurers about them.