§ 89. Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards those European Free Trade Area countries which do not intend to join the Common Market.
§ Mr. RipponAll non-applicant members of the European Free Trade Association are holding discussions with 33W the Community. The communiqué issued after the European Free Trade Association Ministerial meeting on 4th and 5th November recorded the view of all European Free Trade Association members that the prospects for suitable special relations agreements between the Communities and European Free Trade Association non-applicants have improved considerably. The Community's desire that no new barriers into intra-European trade should be erected as a consequence of enlargement is in line with the strong interest of European Free Trade Association ministers in safeguarding the free trade already established between European Free Trade Association countries. We have procedures with the Community on the mandate to the European Economic Community Commission for its negotiations with the non-applicants.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the action taken by Her Majesty's Government in Geneva on giving notice of intention of withdrawing from the European Free Trade Association; and why this has been done before Parliament has had an opportunity of discussing or passing judgment on this issue.
§ Mr. RipponGiven the recent decision of principle of the House on the negotiations for European Economic Community entry, which envisages full membership of the Communities from 1st January, 1973, this is, in the light of Article 42 of the Stockholm Convention, a natural consequential step.