§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions have taken place with Commonwealth countries about the consequences of any decision by Great Britain to leave the Common Market; and what views were expressed thereon;
(2) what discussions have taken place with foreign Governments about the consequences of any decision by Great Britain to leave the Common Market; and what views were expressed thereon.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe discussions we have had with other Governments have not covered this possibility. As we have made plain, our aim is a successful renegotiation which would enable the United Kingdom to remain a member of the European Communities. It is clear that Commonwealth Governments welcome the efforts which we are making, in the course of renegotiation, to promote their interests.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions discussions at departmental level have taken place between Departments of the United 427W Kingdom Government and EEC authorities in Brussels since 1st March 1974; and in how many of these meetings there have been representatives from the Welsh Office.
§ Mr. HattersleyMeetings between United Kingdom and European Community officials are held on a very wide range of subjects and it is not practicable to give figures.
Two Welsh Office officials have been involved in discussions in Brussels in the period since 1st March 1974. Other officers of the Department have recently met Community officials in London and in Wales.
§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and representatives of the Governments of India, Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Malawi, Tanzania and Nigeria, respectively, in connection with the renegotiation of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HattersleyExploratory discussions have taken place in recent weeks with a number of Commonwealth countries regarding their views about access to the European Community for certain food products.
§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and representatives of the Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry and the Engineering Employers' Federation, respectively, in connection with the renegotiation of United Kingdom membership of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HattersleyHer Majesty's Government are keeping in close touch with these bodies on matters of mutual concern, including relevant aspects of British membership of the European Communities.
As regards the broad question of the renegotiation of the United Kingdom's terms of entry into the EEC, the Government's intentions were set out in my 428W right hon. Friend's statements to the Council of Ministers on 1st April and 4th June.
§ Mr. Jim Spicerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings at the level of officials were held within the framework of procedures for co-ordinating foreign policy between EEC countries between 1st January and 30th April 1974; and if he will indicate how these meetings break down in terms of subject matter under the review.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe senior official committee of the political co-operation machinery, the Political Committee, met four times in the period from 1st January to 30th April 1974. In the same period there were on average some two meetings a week at working group level. A wide range of aspects of foreign policy is discussed in these meetings. Priority is given to problems of direct concern to the countries of the European Community. These have included relations between the Community and the United States, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, and relations with the States of the Middle East.
§ Mr. Jim Spicerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many administrative level civil servants in his Department attended meetings with opposite numbers from the other EEC countries to discuss foreign policy issues in the framework of the procedures for co-ordinating foreign policy between 1st January and 30th April 1974.
§ Mr. HattersleyIn the period from 1st January to 30th April 1974, about 60 officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attended European political co-operation meetings. A number of these attended more than one meeting.