HC Deb 05 November 1973 vol 863 cc59-60W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he will not arrange for the publication of a document setting out the advantages and disadvantages of EEC political union.

Mr. John Davies

The political case for membership of the European Communities was set out in paragraphs 26–39 of the White Paper of July 1971 on the United Kingdom and the European Communities (Command 4715).

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Group of "Correspondants" mentioned in Command Paper No. 5432 will be considering steps towards EEC political union.

Mr. John Davies

The institutions of the Community will be primarily responsible for drawing up the report on European union which the Paris summit decided should be prepared before the end of 1975 for submission to a summit conference. The responsibilities of the Group of "Correspondants" within the political co-operation machinery are set out in Part II, paragraph 3, of Cmnd. 5432.