§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what statutory authority the Government is committed to Common Market political union.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe European Communities Act enables Her Majesty's Government to give effect to future decisions taken under and arising out of the Community Treaties. As regards the objective of a European Union which was adopted at the summit meeting in Paris on the 20th October, it is our intention to move to this objective step by step, and Parliament can debate it at every stage.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he intends that the communiqué issued after the meeting of Common Market Heads of Government in October, 1972, shall be submitted to Parliament for approval in accordance with Section I of the European Communities Act, 1972;
(2) when he intends to publish an Order in Council designating as a Community Treaty the communiqué issued after the meeting of Common Market Heads of Government in October, 1972;
(3) if the communiqué issued after the meeting of Common Market Heads of Government in October, 1972, contains any terms settled on or before 22nd January, 1972.
§ Mr. John DaviesAs my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary has already made clear in reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 26th October, the communiqué does not constitute a treaty, and accordingly it will not be made the subject of an Order in Council under Section 1 of the Act.—[Vol. 843. c. 411.]
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§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will now bring in a Bill to repeal the European Communities Act and to provide for a poll in the United Kingdom on the issue of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community on the lines of the poll to be held in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John DaviesNo.