§ 67. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state his proposals for publishing, prior to the main debate on the terms the Government have obtained in negotiations to join the European Economic Community, any outline or details of enabling legislation required under the Treaty of Rome.
§ Mr. RipponI have nothing to add to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 643–5.]
§ 68. Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to the Exchequer of the current national Common Market poster campaign.
§ Mr. RipponThe cost as envisaged at present of the poster campaign advertising the Factsheets entitled "Britain and Europe" is estimated at £111,900.
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§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange to publish in his forthcoming White Paper on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community full details of how, and in what way, the present powers of the House of Commons in opposing and amending legislation will be affected on entry so far as amendment and rejection of decisions of the Council of Ministers are concerned.
§ Mr. RipponNo. The White Paper was published yesterday. The position remains as described in paragraphs 22 and 23 of the White Paper on the Legal and Constitutional Implications of United Kingdom Membership of the European Communities published in May, 1967 (Cmnd. 3301), to which my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 19th April, 1971.—[Vol. 815, c. 337.]
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what head of expenditure funds are being disbursed in connection with the information programme which has been launched by the Government in connection with Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 27th May.—[Vol. 818, c. 219–20.]
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been expended, and what is the proposed expenditure for the future, in connection with the information programme which has been launched by the Government in connection with Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponTo 7th July expenditure of £345,150 has been committed to this information programme, including the cost of the publications and advertising for them. Further issues of the Factsheets and advertising would involve expenditure of a further £302,400 on present plans, but much will depend on 445W public response to and demand for the material issued.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the agricultural trade problems created for Australia if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community, if he will support Australia's efforts to be included in the study group that is being established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to make recommendations to the Ministerial Council of the organisation on the measures that should be taken towards freer world trade in both industrial and agricultural products.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleAs my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade explained in answer to a Question by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) on 14th June, the composition and terms of reference of this group have still to be settled. The Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development decided that the members of the group should be chosen from among high officials or other personalities of suitably wide competence and experience to be designated by Governments. The Secretary-General is continuing his consultations with member Governments about this.—[Vol. 819, c.14.]