HC Deb 10 March 1977 vol 927 cc669-70W
Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the EEC Heads of State agreements in 1972 and 1973 and the resolution of 14th January 1974 regarding the control of scientific and technical policies of member-States, whether the EEC was consulted and whether it agreed to the British-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics bilateral agreements in these fields since February 1974.

Mr. Meacher,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 593], gave the following information

There is currently no Community procedure for consultation about bilateral agreements on science and technology. The European Commission was, however, notified under the arrangements for dealing with economic and industrial cooperation agreements of the British Soviet Agreement on the Development of Economic, Scientific, Technological and Industrial Co-operation signed on 6th May 1974. No objection was raised to this Agreement, which is very similar to agreements on the same subjects which have been concluded between other member-States and the USSR.