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Common Market

Volume 642: debated on Tuesday 13 June 1961

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

40.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia regarding Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and what reply he has sent.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 1st June to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

Is the Prime Minister aware that Great Britain's entry into the Common Market will have a profound effect on the Commonwealth and may well destroy it? What steps is he taking to consult the Commonwealth Prime Ministers about it?

I propose to make a statement after Questions as to the methods of consultation now proposed. But we have all along been in the closest touch with the Commonwealth Governments, and we have made it perfectly clear that if there is to be a closer association between Great Britain and the European Economic Community there must be satisfactory arrangements in respect of Commonwealth interests.

Is the Prime Minister aware of the feeling, which, I think, is very widespread, among those who are most keen to maintain the Commonwealth links that we should not be pushed around by the Commonwealth? But we cannot expect the Commonwealth not to try to push us around so long as the Government are palpably unable to make up their mind and give a lead as to the direction in which we should go in this matter.

No, Sir. I regard consultation to mean consultation before a decision is taken and not afterwards.

Is the Prime Minister aware that if he accepts the Treaty of Rome and supra-national authority, he will be chairman over the liquidation of the British Commonwealth?

No, Sir. I think that there is a great number of problems involved in this question. I repeat that I regard honest consultation, which is exactly what we have been doing and intend to intensify, to mean consultation while decisions are being considered and before they are taken.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider publishing a White Paper setting forth exactly what changes in trade he expects will result so that not only the House but the Commonwealth may know how much loss there may be by Britain joining the Common Market?

I honestly do not think that a White Paper would add very much, although I will do my best to see whether some further statements can be made. What we are now considering is, not whether we join the Common Market, but whether we enter into negotiations. Before entering into negotiations, I think that we should be fully informed of the opinions of the Commonwealth, be in the closest touch with the E.F.T.A. countries, which are our partners, and ensure full protection of our British agricultural interests.

41.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that no approaches will be made to leaders of industry or any other interests outside Parliament with regard to Great Britain joining the Common Market before all the issues involved, economic and political, have been fully debated in the House of Commons.

No, Sir. The Government must reserve the right, on these difficult problems, to have such consultations as they may consider useful and necessary. In particular, there is, and will continue to be at all stages, close consultation with the other members of the Commonwealth and with our European Free Trade Association partners.

Is the Prime Minister aware that statements have been made by leaders of agriculture and leaders of industry which give the impression that clear decisions have been reached to the effect that the House of Commons may be informed before the end of July that the Government have decided to enter the Common Market and that a mild public relations job will be done in the British House of Commons, but that business interests outside this House have had many more guarantees and far more detailed information than would seem to be indicated by the Prime Minister's reply?

If the hon. Lady believes that, I can only say—in the famous words of the Duke of Wellington—she can believe anything.

Thirteen days ago, between 12.30 and one o'clock, there was on the radio a broadcast on farming by a responsible person, and definite dates were given of the stages in which we would go into the Common Market. May I take it from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that that statement and similar statements were completely inaccurate and misinformed?

No, Sir. But the hon. Lady may take it that in this happy country the Government do not control broadcasting.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can discover some information as to how much of British industry is now going inside the Common Market and how much this is likely to affect the industry of this country?

The Government have standing machinery for general consultation both with industry and with the trade unions. There have been from time to time discussions on this problem within the standing machinery, but no approaches have been made to industry about particular proposals. I think that it is proper that discussions of a general character should take place within this machinery of close association between trade unions and industrialists with the Government, which we have had for many years.

While we all agree, I think, that British agriculture, the Commonwealth and our E.F.T.A. partners are the three really important points on which discussions have to take place, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider arranging for some of his colleagues to make much clearer and fuller statements than have so far been made showing more precisely what is at stake concerning agriculture and Commonwealth trade so that the House and the country generally can more easily make up their minds?

I think that that will come in due course. But I must re-emphasise that we are now considering, not whether we can conclude a negotiation, but whether we enter a negotiation. We are a little apt to assume—I find, with respect to it, that the Liberal Party assumes—that all we have to do is to come along and sign on the dotted line. That we are not going to do. What we have to decide is whether to enter into negotiation. In order to do that, all these considerations must be taken into account. We must also consider, having regard to the derogation from the strict operation of the Treaty which would be necessary to us, whether there is any possibility of such a negotiation being successful. I think that the right hon. Gentleman has expressed agreement when I have said that I thought that an unsuccessful negotiation might injure the very purposes of European unity which many of us want to preserve.

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman quite appreciated the point that I was trying to make. Is he aware that many Members of this House and, I am sure, many people in the country find it extremely hard to understand exactly what are the issues? For example, what are the commodities which are particularly important concerning both agriculture and the Commonwealth? What would be the precise effect if we went in under the present arrangements? What kind of changes would have to be made to make it possible for us to go in? Could not a Government statement in much greater detail than we have had so far be made on these subjects so that we might have a clearer idea of what is at stake?

We had quite a good debate yesterday on certain aspects of this matter. I think that the right hon. Gentleman has some experience of negotiation. This will be a very difficult negotiation. I have to consider whether to put every card on the table before entering.

I agree that the negotiations are important, but the state of public opinion here is also important. A little more enlightenment from that point of view would be helpful.

Yes, but the two have to be balanced. Of course, it is very easy to take up positions which are bound to increase the disunity of Europe and to make statements which will lead to the almost certain failure of any negotiation. That I could do, but I am not prepared at this moment, before having honest consultation about the next stage of consultation with the Commonwealth, to go very much further than we have gone. However, I will consider what the right hon. Gentleman has said, always bearing in mind that, if we decide to enter into negotiations, the only purpose of it will be to be in such a position that they are likely to be successful from our point of view.

Is not one of the difficulties in meeting the point of the Leader of the Opposition that Europe does not know what it wants concerning agriculture?

Of course, it is perfectly clear that the agricultural part of the Treaty is in a very formative stage. It has hardly begun to take shape.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Subject to correction, I think that it is not open to the right hon. Gentleman to do that. I think that this is the subject-matter of an Adjournment debate tomorrow night.

Mr. Speaker, may I respectfully give notice that, in accordance with Standing Order No. 9, I shall seek to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a matter—

Order. When we get to the appropriate time, I will bear in mind what the hon. Member has in mind. At present I am concerned with securing an Answer to Question No. 42.

No. With respect, it is not in accordance with order. At the right moment I will give the hon. Member an opportunity.