Orders of the Day — European Communities (Developments)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 November 1978.

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Photo of Mr Neil Marten Mr Neil Marten , Banbury 12:00, 15 November 1978

I was very interested in some of the important constituency matters which the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Leadbitter) brought to the attention of the House. I agree with his concluding words to the effect that we should never have become involved in the EEC. Had we proceeded by means of a free trade area, I think the hon. Gentleman will agree, we would have had a much better and much more genuine form of unity in Europe, without having a supranational organisation in Brussels.

I apologise, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for my absence during the opening speeches of the debate. I was, like the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Roper), in the Scrutiny Committee, dealing with European legislation. We had to be there to interrogate the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

I feel a little isolated tonight, in that I have only one colleague on the Back Benches with me. I think that this somehow symbolises, perhaps, a diminution in the enthusiasm for European matters in the Conservative Party.