§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the utility and the future of the European Coal and Steel Community.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 11 June 1991]: The Government would prefer the immediate termination of the European Coal and Steel Community, whereupon coal and steel would be governed by the EEC treaty in the same way as other industries. While disappointed that the European Commission does not share that view, we recognise the practical difficulties of attempting to achieve 56W immediate termination and can support the Commission's conclusion that the ECSC treaty should be allowed to expire on schedule in 2002, subject to a much less interventionist application of its provisions in the meantime. We were therefore pleased to note the Commission's view that a much less interventionist interpretation and application of the ECSC treaty is indeed necessary.