§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Channel islands and the Isle of Man with the European Community.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe relationship of the Channel islands and the Isle of Man with the European Community is governed by article 227(5)(c) of the treaty of Rome—and the equivalent provisions in the ECSC and Euratom treaties—and by protocol 3 to the Act signed on 15 January 1972 concerning the conditions of United Kingdom accession to the Community. The islands chose in 1972 to remain essentially outside the Community. The broad effects of the treaty provisions is that the islands are included in the Community solely for customs purposes and for certain aspects of the common agricultural policy and free movement of goods. The islands neither contribute to, nor are eligible to benefit from, Community funds.