§ 43. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will cause to be issued a White Paper setting out the position which will obtain on British accession to the European Economic Community in respect of the movement of workers to and from the Community in the context of the relevant provisions of the Treaty of Rome, the British Nationality Act, 1948, and the Immigration Act, 1971.
§ Mr. RipponNo, Sir Accession to the European Economic Community Treaty and acceptance of Community instruments on freedom of movement of labour does not affect the British Nationality Act, 1948, and the Immigration Act, 1971. The situation was covered in Cmnd. 4715 and described in greater detail in No. 11 of the series of Factsheets on Britain and Europe.
§ 59. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what system exists in the European Economic Committee equivalent to the Public Accounts Committee and Expenditure Committee to exercise parliamentary or political control over, or examination of, expenditure by the European Economic Community of moneys raised in one of the member States of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponFinal responsibility for all budgetary matters is exercised by the Council of Ministers. The European Parliament examines the draft Community Budget, and may propose amendments. The Community Accounts of Expenditure are audited by a special Control Commission which reports annually through the Commission to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Part V Chapter 3 Title II 251W (Articles 199–209) of the Treaty of Rome, as modified by the Budget Treaty of 1970, lay down the full provisions.
§ Sir S. McAddenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community is expected to affect United Kingdom trade with Argentina, bearing in mind the recent non-preferential trade agreement negotiated between the European Economic Community and Argentina.
§ Mr. RipponThe effect cannot be estimated precisely Imports from Argentina have risen steadily. The non-preferential trading agreement to which the United Kingdom will accede on becoming a member of the enlarged Communities, should ensure that this continues, and at the same time create new opportunities for the United Kingdom for increased trade with Argentina.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make arrangements for all Members of Parliament to be issued with the Foreign Office Table of Regulations of the European Communities still valid as at 30th June, 1970; and whether he will arrange also for these to be issued in chronological form on a subject basis, with a short description of their effect, in addition to the titles of the regulations.
§ Mr. RipponThe table referred to will continue to be available to hon. Members through the Library of the House, but it will be superseded by the index referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for West Ham, North on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c.231.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent tour of the Channel Islands undertaken by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss matters pertaining to Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community and the effect of such entry on the economy of the Channel Islands.
§ Mr. RipponI visited the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands on 18th and 19th November to commend to the Islands' authorities the Community proposals252W set out in my statement of 11th November. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until the proposals have been considered by the Islands' legislatures.—[Vol. 825, c. 1238.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why copies of the agreement on the Channel Islands and the European Economic Community were refused to the hon. Member for West Ham, North and other Members of Parliament; and whether he will now ensure that copies are made available.
§ Mr. RipponIt is not the practice to supply advance information about the content of Ministerial statements other than through the usual channels in the House In answer to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 17th November.—[Vol. 826, c.154.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the official announcement from the European Economic Community that food prices in the countries of the Six will rise at least 12 per cent. before Great Britain is enabled to join the European Economic Community and that some prices such as meat in general and sirloin and steak in particular will rise by 50 per cent., if he will now withdraw Great Britain's application for entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RipponNo. A number of figures have been mentioned in Press reports, but no proposals of this magnitude have been put to the European Economic Community Council of Ministers for decision.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the catalogue of Legal Services of the European Communities, Eighth Edition, is only complete upon until 31st December, 1969; whether he will discover when it is to be brought up to date; and whether he will make arrangements for all Members of Parliament to be issued with a copy.
§ Mr. RipponThe catalogue referred to is a Community publication which is revised and up-dated from time to time. With regard to the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to my answer 253W to the hon. Member on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 231.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will obtain enough copies of the authenticated agreed translations of the Classified Index of Laws and Regulations of the European Coal and Steel Community, E.1110, Levies in Accordance with Articles 49 and 50 of the Treaty of Rome, to enable him to circulate a copy to each Member of Parliament.
§ Mr. RipponI have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19th November.—[Vol. 826, c.231–2.]