§ Q9. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the statement of the Commission that the Common Market is stagnating and that investment forecasts are disappointing with rising unemployment in Italy and the Netherlands, he will refrain from signing the Treaty of Rome until the House has debated the legislation designed to authorise the signature.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. Legislation is not required to authorise signature of the Treaty of Accession. The Treaty will not enter into force on signature. As I explained in my statement on 17th June, legislation will be needed to give effect to the Treaty, and only when this has been enacted shall we deposit an instrument of ratification.
While the recently published First Annual Report on the Economic Situation of the Community suggests a slowdown in economic growth during the last few months, the rate of increase still remains greater than that experienced in Britain in the recent past.—[Vol. 821, c. 644.]