§ Mr. Deakinsasked 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 that manufactured and semi-manufactured products from India, Pakistan and Ceylon are not subject to the Common External Tariff.
§ Mr. RipponThe major part of these products will benefit from the introduction of the U.N.C.T.A.D. scheme for Generalised Preferences. We have asked the Communities to agree, as they did in the 1961–63 negotiations, that trade agreements be concluded with any of these countries if they seek them.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the United States Government about the consequences for international trade on the basis that African member states of the Commonwealth achieve associate membership status with the European Economic Community.
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§ Mr. RipponThe United States' position on preferential trading arrangements is well known and they have recently reminded us of this in the context of the U.N.C.T.A.D. scheme for Generalised Preferences and international trade policy.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to publish the texts of agreements reached with the European Communities.
§ Mr. RipponUntil I am in a position to present the results of the negotiations as a whole to the House I shall continue the present practice of giving information about the nature of the provisional agreements reached in my regular statements on the progress of the negotiations.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from the European Economic Community Commission and Council of Ministers about the size and market share of the British Steel Corporation, in the event of the United Kingdom becoming a member of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponNone.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, under the terms of the Treaty of Rome and subsequent European Economic Community regulations, the United Kingdom would be allowed to retain preferences accorded to United Kingdom exports in Commonwealth markets.
§ Mr. RipponThere is nothing in the Treaty of Rome or Community legislation which would prevent the United Kingdom continuing to benefit from preferences in Commonwealth markets. It is for the Commonwealth countries which grant us such preferences to determine their future.