§ Q7. Mr. George Gardinerasked the Prime Minister whether the public statement by the Secretary of State for Trade in London on 23rd March on the EEC represents Government policy.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, it does not. In accordance with the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Walker) on 7th April, my right hon. Friend was exercising his authorised freedom to advocate a different view during the referendum campaign in the country.
§ Q16. Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister if he is planning a ministerial broadcast before the referendum.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) on 20th March.
§ Q17. Mr. Dykesasked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries concerning British membership of the European Economic Community since the Dublin summit meeting.
§ The Prime MinisterI have received no formal representations from the Head of any Commonwealth Government 139W since 11th March about the question of British membership of the European Community which the Commonwealth Governments recognise is one for the British people to decide. Informally Commonwealth Governments continue to make clear their hope that our people will support the Government's recommendation.
§ Q21. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister how many public meetings he plans to address in Scotland in the course of the campaign leading up to the referendum on the EEC.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 8th April.
§ Mr. Woodallasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on public speeches made outside Parliament by those members of the Cabinet who have availed themselves of the agreement to differ from the Government's recommendation in favour of continued membership of the European Community.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I have already made clear in the House, those Ministers who do not agree with the Government's recommendation in favour of continued membership of the European Community are, in the unique circumstances of the referendum, now free to advocate a different view during the referendum campaign in the country. It follows that speeches in the country on British membership of the European Community by those members of the Cabinet who are availing themselves of the agreement to differ do not represent, nor are they required to represent, the policy of Her Majesty's Government in the unique context of the national debate over membership of the European Community.