HC Deb 07 May 1971 vol 816 cc449-50W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what machinery he will press for within an European Economic Community enlarged by the membership of the United Kingdom and Eire, to ensure that tariff barriers are not re-erected between the United Kingdom and its former European Free Trade Association partners.

Mr. Rippon

The achievement of wider integration in Europe is a basic objective of both European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community, and the Governments of members of E.F.T.A. have frequently reiterated their interest in maintaining as part of an enlarged Community the free trade already established in E.F.T.A. Two other members of E.F.T.A., apart from ourselves, are candidates for full membership of the Community; all the other members of the Association are discussing with the Community their relations with it.

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