§ 43. Mr. H. Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, when the terms of entry are known and before any decision is taken by Parliament on the matter of joining the Common Market, he will arrange for the national free distribution of a pamphlet setting out the anticipated advantages and disadvantages of Great Britain's membership.
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§ Mr. RipponAs the House will be aware, we are issuing Factsheets on Britain and Europe through the Post Office; and in view of the great public interest we are planning to issue the remainder during the next few weeks. A White Paper will also be issued in due course.
§ 44. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent Ministerial consultations with Norway over the European Economic Community fisheries policy.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleMy right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had comprehensive talks with the Norwegian Government on 25th May which included full discussion of the two Governments' attitudes to the Common Fisheries Policy of the Community.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he considers associate membership of an enlarged European Economic Community is not appropriate for Asian Commonwealth countries.
§ Mr. RipponSuccessive Governments have accepted the view of the Community expressed at the time of its 1963 Declaration of Intent that association should be offered only to countries whose economic structure and production are comparable to those of existing associates of the present Community.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which products mentioned in the solutions agreed for the tariff treatment of industrial materials it would be possible for the United Kingdom to apply to the European Economic Community for duty quotas.
§ Mr. RipponThe products in question are ferro-chrome and ferro-silicone.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what particular respects an agreement with the European Economic Community on specific quantities and prices for sugar from Commonwealth deve10ping countries after 1974, together with the offer of associated status, would 318W be a lesser assurance for those countries than the agreement reached in Brussels on this question.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThe Community's assurance on sugar is both a specific and moral commitment. It relates particularly to sugar, but covers additionally other primary products of importance to the countries concerned.
As for sugar, the countries concerned have recognised, in the communiqué issued after last week's consultations, that the Community's offer is a firm assurance of a secure and continuing market in the enlarged Community on fair terms for the quantities of sugar covered by the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement in respect of all its existing deve10ping member countries, and will continue to plan their future on this basis.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to negotiate amendments to the European Economic Community Common Fisheries Policy before the House of Commons is asked to take a decision on the issue of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponWe have now asked the Community to recognise that the regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy would need modification to meet the needs and circumstances of an enlarged Community.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a separate series of Factsheets on Northern Ireland and Europe.
§ Mr. RipponNo.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the series of Factsheets on Great Britain and Europe are not called Factsheets on the United Kingdom and Europe.
§ Mr. RipponThe series of Factsheets to which the hon. Member refers is not called "Great Britain and Europe", but "Britain and Europe". The term "Britain" is commonly used to mean the United Kingdom.