(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/128/56/3
Image Reference:0001
IHIS D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y
OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
COPY
CC(75) 3rd
Conclusions
GOVERNMENT
67
NO
CABINET
C O N C L U S I O N S o f a M e e t i n g of t h e C a b i n e t
h e l d at 10 D o w n i n g S t r e e t o n
T H U R S D A Y 16 J A N U A R Y 1975
a t 10, 30 a m
P R E S E N T
T h e Rt Hon H a r o l d W i l s o n
Prime Minister
MP
he Rt Hon E d w a r d S h o r t M P
Lord P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l
The Rt Hon James Callaghan M P
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n and
Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon L o r d
T h e Rt Hon R o y Jenkins
Elwyn-Jones
MP
S e c r e t a r y of State f o r the H o m e
Lord C h a n c e l l o r
Department
The Rt Hon A n t h o n y C r o p l a n d
The Rt Hon M i c h a e l F o o t
MP
MP
Secretary of State f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t
S e c r e t a r y of State f o r
The Rt Hon E r i c V a r l e y M P
Secretary of State f o r E n e r g y
The Rt Hon Shirley W i l l i a m s M P
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r P r i c e s and
Consumer Protection
The Rt Hon B a r b a r a C a s t l e
T h e Rt Hon Anthony W e d g w o o d Benn
MP
Employment
Secretary of State f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s
S e c r e t a r y of State for
The Rt H o n R o y M a s o n
The Rt Hon Reginald Prentice M P
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r E d u c a t i o n and
Science
Secretary of State f o r
MP
Defence
The Rt Hon M e r l y n R e e s
Industry
T h e Rt Hon John M o r r i s Q C
The Rt H o n W i l l i a m R o s s M P
Secretary of State f o r S c o t l a n d
S e c r e t a r y of State f o r
MP
Secretary of State f o r N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d
MP
Wales
The Rt Hon F r e d P e a r t M P
M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e , F i s h e r i e s and
Food
SECRET MP
The Rt Hon H a r o l d L e v e r M P
Chancellor of t h e D u c h y o f L a n c a s t e r
The Rt Hon L o r d
L o r d P r i v y Seal
The Rt Hon R o b e r t M e l l i s h M P
Parliamentary S e c r e t a r y , T r e a s u r y
T h e R t H o n John Silkin M P
M i n i s t e r f o r Planning and L o c a l
Government
THE FOLLOWING WERE ALSO
["he Rt Hon S a m u e l S i l k i n Q C
PRESENT
M r Joel Barnett
MP
Chief Secretary,
attorney G e n e r a l ( I t e m 4 )
Shepherd
MP
Treasury
SECRETARIAT
S i r J o h n Hunt
M r P D N a i r n e ( I t e m 2)
M r H F T Smith ( I t e m 2)
M r P B e n n e r ( I t e m s 1 and 3)
M r J A Hamilton (Item 4)
M r E J G S m i t h ( I t e m s 1 and 2 )
M r J P e t e r s (Item 4)
C O N T E N T S
Item
1.
Subject
PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS
Debate on E E C
Page
1
Documents
M r John Stonehouse
2,
FOREIGN
AFFAIRS
R e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
3.
Sugar
3
C A P P r i c e s 1975-76
4
C E N S U S 1976
P a r e n t s ' Countries of B i r t h
4.
CHANNEL
5
7
TUNNEL
ii
SECRET
i^RLIAMENTARY
L
£"FAIRS
H o u s e of C o m m o n s d u r i n g the f o l l o w i n g
T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d o f t h e b u s i n e s s t o b e t a k e n i n the
iebate
It
nEEC
European Economic Community (EEC) documents.
locuments
G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s h a d put d o w n an e m b a r r a s s i n g a m e n d m e n t t o
w
a
s
week.
r e p o r t e d that d i f f i c u l t i e s w e r e s t i l l a r i s i n g o n d e b a t e s o n
A n u m b e r of
t h e G o v e r n m e n t M o t i o n t o t a k e n o t e of t h e d o c u m e n t s o n a g r i c u l t u r a l
"revious
p r i c e s w h i c h w a s d u e t o b e d e b a t e d that e v e n i n g .
The need to k e e p
,efercncc:
m e m b e r s late to v o t e a g a i n s t t h e i r own c o l l e a g u e s c a u s e d
;C(75) 1st
of P a r t y
problems
management,
ionclusions,
ilnute 4
In d i s c u s s i o n it w a s a r g u e d that the p r o b l e m a r o s e p a r t l y b e c a u s e
s o m e m e m b e r s w e r e using the n e w situation to extend
Parliamentary
i n v o l v e m e n t i n t o an a r e a p r e v i o u s l y the p r e s e r v e of t h e E x e c u t i v e .
On a g r i c u l t u r a l p r i c e s , f o r e x a m p l e , t r a d i t i o n a l l y P a r l i a m e n t h a d n o t
known what p r o p o s a l s the G o v e r n m e n t w a s c o n s i d e r i n g until the f i n a l
d e t e r m i n a t i o n s had b e e n m a d e a n d a n n o u n c e d , a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t
w a s a c c o u n t a b l e t o t h e H o u s e o n l y at t h a t s t a g e ;
it would t h e r e f o r e
be
a n e x t e n s i o n o f t h e r o l e of P a r l i a m e n t f o r i t t o b e c o m e i n v o l v e d w h i l e
negotiations were proceeding.
O n the o t h e r hand i t w a s p o i n t e d out
t h a t i f P a r l i a m e n t w e r e t o e x e r c i s e an e f f e c t i v e
legislation,
r o l e in E E C
it would need to m a k e its v i e w s known b e f o r e
w e r e t a k e n b y the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s .
decisions
T h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t o f the
C o u n c i l a n d t h e F o r e i g n and C o m m o n w e a l t h S e c r e t a r y w o u l d
shortly
b e c i r c u l a t i n g a joint, m e m o r a n d u m o n t h e h a n d l i n g of t h e s e d e b a t e s .
lr John
THE LORD PRESIDENT
O F T H E C O U N C I L r e p o r t e d that a m e s s a g e
fonehouse
had r e c e n t l y b e e n r e c e i v e d f r o m M r Stonehouse asking
for
a r r a n g e m e n t s t o b e put i n h a n d f o r h i m t o r e l i n q u i s h h i s s e a t i n t h e
House of C o m m o n s .
S u b s e q u e n t r e p o r t s had s u g g e s t e d t h a t o n t h e
a d v i c e o f h i s l a w y e r h e w a s h a v i n g s e c o n d t h o u g h t s , a n d a t t e m p t s had
t h e r e f o r e been m a d e through the B r i t i s h Consul G e n e r a l to
w r i t t e n c o n f i r m a t i o n of h i s i n t e n t i o n to r e s i g n .
been unsuccessful;
secure
T h e s e had so f a r
but t h e C o n s u l G e n e r a l w a s h o p i n g t o a r r a n g e a
m e e t i n g with M r Stonehouse and h i s l a w y e r d u r i n g the c o u r s e of the
day,
If,
however,
no f i r m i n d i c a t i o n of M r Stonehouse's
intentions
h a d b e e n r e c e i v e d b y t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k i t w o u l d
seem
r i g h t t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e t o m a k e
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s about the a c t i o n to be t a k e n .
In d i s c u s s i o n i t w a s a r g u e d that the m a t t e r should be a p p r o a c h e d
cautiously,
d e s p i t e t h e s t r e n g t h o f f e e l i n g a m o n g s the
b a c k b e n c h s u p p o r t e r s that it w a s i n t o l e r a b l e that M r
Government's
Stonehouse
s h o u l d c o n t i n u e a s a M e m b e r o f t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s .
Members
w e r e c h o s e n b y the e l e c t o r s i n t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n c i e s , not b y the H o u s e
i t s e l f ; a n d t h e H o u s e s h o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e w a r e of a c t i n g t o o
p r e c i p i t a t e l y o v e r the r e m o v a l o f any p r o p e r l y e l e c t e d M e m b e r ,
M o r e o v e r , w h i l e it w a s t r u e t h a t M r S t o n e h o u s e c o u l d n o t l o o k a f t e r
his c o n s t i t u e n t s ' i n t e r e s t s w h i l e not in the c o u n t r y , t h e r e w e r e a g o o d
m a n y i n s t a n c e s o f M e m b e r s w h o had b e e n a b s e n t f o r r e l a t i v e l y l o n g
periods without giving r i s e to serious dissatisfaction. .
M r S t o n e h o u s e h a d n o t b e e n c o n v i c t e d o f a n y c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e , and
the o b j e c t i o n s t o t a k i n g a c t i o n m e r e l y o n t h e s u s p i c i o n o f such a n
o f f e n c e w e r e o b v i o u s , p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e i t m i g h t b e f o u n d that i l l n e s s
l a y at t h e r o o t o f s o m e o f h i s r e c e n t a c t i o n s .
A s a g a i n s t t h i s , it w a s a r g u e d that, i n the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of his
d i s a p p e a r a n c e i n v o l v i n g h i s f e i g n e d d e a t h , M r S t o n e h o u s e had t r e a t e d
P a r l i a m e n t w i t h c o n t e m p t ; and h e h a d a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y a b u s e d h i s
p r i v i l e g e s a s a M e m b e r of t h e H o u s e ,
A n d w h i l e i t w a s t r u e t h a t no
a l l e g a t i o n s o f f r a u d h a d b e e n s u b s t a n t i a t e d , h e d i d n o t d e n y t h a t he h a d
e n t e r e d a n o t h e r c o u n t r y b y m e a n s of a f o r g e d p a s s p o r t .
Moreover,
the l o n g e r the p r e s e n t situation c o n t i n u e d , the l o n g e r w o u l d the
e l e c t o r a t e of W a l s a l l N o r t h be left without e f f e c t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n ,
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R , s u m m i n g up the d i s c u s s i o n , s a i d that the
C a b i n e t a g r e e d t h a t i m p o r t a n t i s s u e s o f p r i n c i p l e w e r e a t s t a k e and
that t h e d e c i s i o n m u s t n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h o f
f e e l i n g a m o n g s t the G o v e r n m e n t s b a c k b e n c h s u p p o r t e r s .
The L o r d
P r e s i d e n t of the C o u n c i l should d i s c u s s the m a t t e r i n f o r m a l l y with
the S p e a k e r t o a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r the b a s i s of any a c t i o n b y the H o u s e
m i g h t b e t h a t t h e H o u s e had b e e n t r e a t e d w i t h c o n t e m p t and p e r h a p s
a l s o that P a r l i a m e n t a r y p r i v i l e g e had b e a n a b u s e d .
T h e r e should a l s o
be i n f o r m a l consultations with the Opposition b e f o r e any action was
taken.
Subject to the o u t c o m e of t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s , it would be
r i g h t , i f n o f u r t h e r a c t i o n had b e e n t a k e n b y M r S t o n e h o u s e t o
relinquish h i s seat b y the beginning of the f o l l o w i n g w e e k , to a r r a n g e
f o r t h e m a t t e r o f h i s c o n t i n u e d m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s
to be r e f e r r e d t o a S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e .
If t h i s w e r e n o t t h e
C o m m i t t e e of P r i v i l e g e s i t s e l f , it w o u l d be d e s i r a b l e f o r any
s p e c i a l l y c o n s t i t u t e d c o m m i t t e e to c o n s i s t l a r g e l y of m e m b e r s of the
C o m m i t t e e of P r i v i l e g e s , who w e r e a c c u s t o m e d to d e a l i n g with such
m a t t e r s i n a j u d i c i a l s p i r i t and w o u l d n o t b e u n d u l y s w a y e d b y t h e
strength of feeling amongst backbench M e m b e r s .
It w o u l d b e
i m p o r t a n t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e p o i n t s w h i c h h a d b e e n r a i s e d d u r i n g the
C a b i n e f s d i s c u s s i o n w e r e b e f o r e t h e S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e and t a k e n i n t o
account by t h e m .
T h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e C o u n c i l s h o u l d k e e p h i m
i n f o r m e d of h o w it w a s p r o p o s e d t o p r o c e e d .
The Cabinet
-
T o o k note, with approval,
s u m m i n g up o f t h e i r
of t h e P r i m e
discussion.
2
Minister's
2.
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
SECRETARY
said
thai the d e c i s i o n b y the S o v i e t Union to r e p u d i a t e its T r a d e A g r e e m e n t
w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s had l e d t o s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t t h e p o l i c y o f d e t e n t e
w a s u n d e r t h r e a t and that M r B r e z h n e v m i g h t b e i n d i f f i c u l t y w i t h h i s
colleagues.
It w a s p r e m a t u r e t o r e a c h e i t h e r c o n c l u s i o n .
The
R u s s i a n s had c l e a r l y d e c i d e d that t h e c o n d i t i o n s about J e w i s h
e m i g r a t i o n f r o m the S o v i e t U n i o n w h i c h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n g r e s s
had s o u g h t t o l a y d o w n , a n d t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f c r e d i t s t o b e m a d e
a v a i l a b l e by the United States E x p o r t / I m p o r t Bank t o the v e r y m o d e s t
f i g u r e o f $300 m i l l i o n o v e r f o u r y e a r s , r e n d e r e d t h e T r a d e A g r e e m e n t
u n a c c e p t a b l e ; but t h e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e o f a n y i n t e n t i o n on t h e p a r t o f
the S o v i e t U n i o n to abandon detente,.
N o r should any p o l i t i c a l
s i g n i f i c a n c e b e a t t a c h e d at t h i s s t a g e t o t h e f a c t t h a t M r B r e z h n e v h a d
b e e n a b s e n t f i o m p u b l i c v i e w 9ince t h e e n d o f D e c e m b e r .
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R . , s u m m i n g up a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n , s a i d t h a t
although it w a s u n l i k e l y that the f a i l u r e of the T r a d e A g r e e m e n t w o u l d
c a r r y w i d e r i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r detente, the Russians might d e c i d e f o r
p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s to s w i t c h s o m e of t h e i r t r a d e w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s
to other suppliers.
W h e n h e and t h e F o r e i g n a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h
S e c r e t a r y v i s i t e d the S o v i e t Union in F e b r u a r y a substantial i n c r e a s e
i n t h e l e v e l o f o u r e x p o r t s t o the S o v i e t U n i o n w o u l d b e h i g h on t h e
agenda for discussion.
The Cabinet
-
L
T o o k n o t e o f the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s
up of t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n .
summing
T H E M I N I S T E R OF A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O O D said
t h a t h e h a d h e l d d i s c u s s i o n s i n L o n d o n o n 9 a n d 10 J a n u a r y and i n
B r u s s e l s on 14 J a n u a r y w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e s u g a r p r o d u c i n g
c o u n t r i e s on t h e s u p p l e m e n t t o t h e p r i c e t o b e p a i d i n 1975 f o r s u g a r
i m p o r t e d i n t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m u n d e r P r o t o c o l 22 o f t h e T r e a t y o f
A c c e s s i o n to the E u r o p e a n E c o n o m i c C o m m u n i t y ( E E C ) .
A s Cabinet
had a g r e e d , h e had f i n a l l y o f f e r e d a p r i c e o f £ 2 5 0 a t o n c i f , m a k i n g i t
p l a i n that this w a s the l i m i t .
T h e p r o d u c e r s had in d i s c u s s i o n
l o w e r e d t h e p r i c e t h e y w e r e s e e k i n g f r o m £315 a t o n t o £ 2 8 3 a t o n ,
but at t h a t l e v e l h a d l i n k e d i t w i t h an e x t e n s i o n t o 1 J u l y 1976.
The
f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g he w a s holding a c o n f i d e n t i a l m e e t i n g w i t h the
M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e f o r M a u r i t i u s at t h e l a t t e r ' s r e q u e s t .
It
c o u l d e m e r g e a t t h a t m e e t i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s f u r t h e r m o v e m e n t b y at
l e a s t s o m e o f the p r o d u c e r s .
H e had k e p t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the
r e f i n e r y w o r k e r s and the M e m b e r s of P a r l i a m e n t c o n c e r n e d in touch
with the p o s i t i o n ; t h e y w e r e content with the w a y it w a s b e i n g h a n d l e d .
In d i s c u s s i o n it w a s s u g g e s t e d that it w a s r i g h t to stand f i r m on
£250 a ton.
This was a profitable price;
the r e s i d u a l w o r l d m a r k e t
p r i c e w a s f a l l i n g s h a r p l y , and t h e r e w e r e c o n s i d e r a b l e a d v a n t a g e s t o
the p r o d u c e r s i n o b t a i n i n g a l o n g - t e r m c o n t r a c t .
I n the l i g h t o f
further d e v e l o p m e n t s , the C a b i n e t should have a d i s c u s s i o n next w e e k
o n t h e g e n e r a l p o s i t i o n r e a c h e d and t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e o p t i o n s
open
G
The Cabinet
2.
­
I n v i t e d the M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e ,
Fisheries
and F o o d t o c i r c u l a t e t o t h e C a b i n e t f o r d i s c u s s i o n
next w e e k a m e m o r a n d u m on the p o s i t i o n on s u g a r
s u p p l i e s and p r i c e s i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e
c o u r s e s of a c t i o n w h i c h w e r e o p e n .
,p
T H E M I N I S T E R OF A G R I C U L T U R E ,
FISHERIES A N D FOOD
said
ices
t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n a g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n i n t h e E E C C o u n c i l of
'5"76
M i n i s t e r s ( A g r i c u l t u r e ) o n 13 and 14 J a n u a r y o n t h e p r i c e s t o b e
d e t e r m i n e d under the C o m m o n A g r i c u l t u r a l P o l i c y ( C A P ) f o r 1975-76.
T h e d i s c u s s i o n in the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s would be r e s u m e d on
20 J a n u a r y and c o n t i n u e f o r m u c h o f t h a t w e e k .
to b e d e c i d e d d u r i n g the c o u r s e of that m e e t i n g ,
doubtful if t h e y w o u l d b e .
difficult one.
T h e p r i c e s w e r e due
but i t w a s n o w
T h e m e e t i n g would in a n y c a s e b e a
H i s line at it would be in a c c o r d a n c e with the
d i s c u s s i o n s on the subject in the M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e on E u r o p e a n
Questions,
In d i s c u s s i o n it w a s n o t e d that it w o u l d b e c r u c i a l t o s e c u r e , i n
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o u r r e n e g o t i a t i o n o b j e c t i v e s , an i m p r o v e d r e g i m e f o r
b e e f , though this d i d not m e a n that w e n e e d o b j e c t on d o c t r i n a l grounds
to any d e g r e e of i n t e r v e n t i o n .
T h e l i k e l y i n c r e a s e in p r i c e s f o r
d a i r y p r o d u c t s , due both to the next t r a n s i t i o n a l step to E E C p r i c e
l e v e l s and t o t h e p r i c e i n c r e a s e s c u r r e n t l y u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n , w a s a
worrying feature.
T h e M i n i s t e r s c o n c e r n e d had n o t r e a c h e d
a g r e e m e n t on the p r i c e f o r m i l k to be guaranteed to United K i n g d o m
p r o d u c e r s and on the c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r the c o n s u m e r p r i c e of m i l k ­
a n i s s u e t h a t w a s s e p a r a t e f r o m , but r e l a t e d t o , t h e C A P p r i c e
negotiations,
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R , s u m m i n g up t h e d i s c u s s i o n , s a i d that the
M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e , F i s h e r i e s and F o o d should b e g u i d e d i n the
n e g o t i a t i o n s b y the d i s c u s s i o n s that had t a k e n p l a c e i n the M i n i s t e r i a l
C o m m i t t e e on E u r o p e a n Q u e s t i o n s .
A n y i s s u e s , s u c h a s t h a t of t h e
m i l k p r i c e , w h i c h had n o t b e e n r e s o l v e d should be p u r s u e d u r g e n t l y
within that C o m m i t t e e , and be r e p o r t e d t o the C a b i n e t if n e c e s s a r y .
The Cabinet ­
3.
T o o k n o t e , with a p p r o v a l , of the
Prime
M i n i s t e r ' s s u m m i n g up t h i s p a r t o f t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n
and i n v i t e d the M i n i s t e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e , F i s h e r i e s
and F o o d t o p r o c e e d a c c o r d i n g l y , ,
CENSUS
3.
T h e C a b i n e t had b e f o r e t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m b y t h e
976
o f S t a t e f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s ( C ( 7 5 ) 5) a b o u t the i n c l u s i o n i n t h e 1976
c e n s u s of a q u e s t i o n about p a r e n t s
Parents
1
Secretary
c o u n t r i e s of b i r t h .
1
Countries
if Birth
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R said that the i s s u e had b e e n fully c o n s i d e r e d
b y t h e H o m e A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e i n D e c e m b e r 1974, w h e n i t had b e e n
d e c i d e d on b a l a n c e t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d ; a n d t h e
p o s i t i o n of t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s had n o t t h e n b e e n
reserved.
It would t h e r e f o r e not n o r m a l l y be a p p r o p r i a t e f o r the
m a t t e r t o b e r e o p e n e d i n C a b i n e t ; but h e h a d a g r e e d to m a k e an
e x c e p t i o n on t h i s o c c a s i o n , b e a r i n g in m i n d that the S e c r e t a r y of
State f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s , who w a s a c t i n g on b e h a l f of the R e g i s t r a r
G e n e r a l and n o t i n h e r D e p a r t m e n t a l c a p a c i t y , h a d b e e n p r e v e n t e d b y
p r e s s u r e of e v e n m o r e u r g e n t b u s i n e s s f r o m attending t h e m e e t i n g of
the H o m e A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e .
V e r y strong grounds would h o w e v e r
h a v e to be adduced b e f o r e it would b e r i g h t to r e v e r s e the d e c i s i o n
w h i c h the C o m m i t t e e had r e a c h e d a f t e r a f u l l d i s c u s s i o n ,
T H E S E C R E T A R Y O F S T A T E F O R S O C I A L S E R V I C E S said that the
i n c l u s i o n i n t h e 1971 c e n s u s of a q u e s t i o n a b o u t p a r e n t s c o u n t r i e s o f
b i r t h h a d g i v e n r i s e t o m o r e c o m p l a i n t t h a n a n y o t h e r q u e s t i o n and
had i m p e r i l l e d t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e c e n s u s a s a w h o l e .
T h e r e w a s no
e v i d e n c e that public f e e l i n g had c h a n g e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y s i n c e then ­
i n d e e d , t h e p o s i t i o n m i g h t b e e v e n m o r e d i f f i c u l t i n 1976 t h a n i t h a d
b e e n f i v e y e a r s e a r l i e r , in that I r i s h p e o p l e m i g h t b e c o m e reluctant
to p r o v i d e the i n f o r m a t i o n r e q u i r e d .
It w a s u n l i k e l y that the
i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n in r e s p o n s e to the p r o p o s e d q u e s t i o n would b e
a c c u r a t e : i n 1971, w h e n 3 p e r c e n t o f p e o p l e had f a i l e d t o a n s w e r t h e
q u e s t i o n , t h o s e w h o had n o t r e p l i e d w e r e g r e a t e r i n n u m b e r t h a n the
immigrant community.
M o r e o v e r , even if a wholly satisfactory
r e s p o n s e could be s e c u r e d , the i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d would be
m i s l e a d i n g b e c a u s e m a n y p e o p l e o n e o r b o t h of w h o s e p a r e n t s h a d
b e e n b o r n in the n e w C o m m o n w e a l t h w e r e in fact white - f i g u r e s
p r o v i d e d b y t h e R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l s h o w e d t h a t , of p e o p l e o v e r 18 w i t h
o n e p a r e n t b o r n i n t h e n e w C o m m o n w e a l t h , f o u r o u t of f i v e w e r e w h i t e .
I n f o r m a t i o n no l e s s a c c u r a t e than w o u l d b e o b t a i n e d d i r e c t l y f r o m a
q u e s t i o n about p a r e n t s ' c o u n t r i e s of b i r t h could be s e c u r e d
i n d i r e c t l y b y a s s i g n i n g young p e o p l e in a h o u s e h o l d to the ethnic g r o u p
identified by the country of birth of the adults in the household.
This
m e t h o d , though a d m i t t e d l y not w h o l l y a c c u r a t e - in p a r t i c u l a r
1
b e c a u s e it w o u l d not i d e n t i f y c o l o u r e d a d o l e s c e n t s w h o h a d b e e r
born
i n t h i s c o u n t r y but had l e f t h o m e - w o u l d b e m u c h l e s s l i k e l y t o c a u s e
offence.
T h e R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l f e l t s t r o n g l y that the u s e of this
indirect approach was preferable;
and c o n s i d e r a b l e w e i g h t m u s t b e
g i v e n t o his a d v i c e on t e c h n i c a l m a t t e r s of this k i n d .
In d i s c u s s i o n , i t w a s a r g u e d t h a t t h e r e w a s s t i l l a r e a l d a n g e r t h a t
the i n c l u s i o n of a q u e s t i o n about p a r e n t s ' c o u n t r i e s of b i r t h w o u l d
c a u s e o f f e n c e and t h a t , s i n c e r e a s o n a b l y a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d
b e s e c u r e d b y o t h e r m e a n s , i t w a s not w o r t h i m p e r i l l i n g the s u c c e s s
of the c e n s u s a s a w h o l e b y i n c l u d i n g i t .
It w a s p e r h a p s s i g n i f i c a n t
that in the C i v i l S e r v i c e the Staff Side w e r e s t r o n g l y o p p o s e d t o the
r e c e n t d e c i s i o n t h a t a count s h o u l d b e m a d e of c o l o u r e d e m p l o y e e s .
T h e c a s e a g a i n s t i n c l u s i o n w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d b y the f a c t that t h e r e
w o u l d not be a c o r r e s p o n d i n g q u e s t i o n i n the c e n s u s i n S c o t l a n d .
A s a g a i n s t t h i s , it w a s a r g u e d that the d e c i s i o n b y the H o m e A f f a i r s
C o m m i t t e e had b e e n t a k e n a f t e r a f u l l d i s c u s s i o n and s h o u l d s t a n d .
P o i n t s which had p a r t i c u l a r l y w e i g h e d w i t h the C o m m i t t e e w e r e that
the voluntary organisations active in the r a c e r e l a t i o n s field n o w
f a v o u r e d i n c l u d i n g the q u e s t i o n , w h i c h s u p p o r t e d t h e v i e w t h a t
o p i n i o n h a d c h a n g e d s i n c e 1971; a n d t h a t t h e o m i s s i o n o f a q u e s t i o n
which had a p p e a r e d in the last c e n s u s would l e a d to s u s p i c i o n s that
the G o v e r n m e n t w e r e seeking to c o n c e a l e m b a r r a s s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n .
M o r e o v e r , t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n i n 1971 c o u l d b e
o v e r s t a t e d - the f a i l u r e of 3 p e r cent of p e o p l e t o r e s p o n d t o the
q u e s t i o n about p a r e n t s ' c o u n t r i e s o f b i r t h s e e m e d i n m a n y c a s e s t o
h a v e a r i s e n f r o m a s i m p l e m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of what w a s r e q u i r e d ,
not f r o m d i s l i k e of t h e q u e s t i o n .
F u r t h e r m o r e , m a n y of the
c o m p l a i n t s w h i c h had b e e n m a d e c a m e not f r o m the c o l o u r e d
c o m m u n i t y but f r o m w h i t e p e o p l e o n e o r b o t h o f w h o s e p a r e n t s h a d
been born o v e r s e a s .
P o l i c i e s calling for positive discrimination in
f a v o u r o f i m m i g r a n t and o t h e r d e p r i v e d gx-oups r e q u i r e d i n f o r m a t i o n
m o r e a c c u r a t e than w o u l d b e p r o d u c e d b y the i n d i r e c t a p p r o a c h
p r o p o s e d by the R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l ; and i n f o r m e d opinion w a s
i n c r e a s i n g l y abandoning the v i e w that d i f f e r e n c e s in c o l o u r should be
t r e a t e d a s t h o u g h t h e y d i d n o t e x i s t o r d i d not m a t t e r , and i n s t e a d w a s
t e n d i n g t o h o l d that s e n s i b l e p o l i c i e s w e r e i m p o s s i b l e u n l e s s b a s e d o n
o b j e c t i v e f a c t s , and c o n s e q u e n t l y o n t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f r e l e v a n t a n d
accurate information.
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R , s u m m i n g vip t h e d i s c u s s i o n , s a i d t h a t t h e
C a b i n e t ' s d i s c u s s i o n had s h o w n t h a t t h e r e w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l a r g u m e n t s
b o t h f o r and a g a i n s t i n c l u d i n g i n t h e 1976 c e n s u s a q u e s t i o n a b o u t
p a r e n t s ' countries of birth.
L i k e the H o m e A f f a i r s C o m m i t t e e ,
h o w e v e r , t h e C a b i n e t had d e c i d e d o n b a l a n c e t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n s h o u l d
b e i n c l u d e d , and t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s s h o u l d
i n f o r m the R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l a c c o r d i n g l y .
The Cabinet
1.
­
Took note, with approval,
s u m m i n g up o f t h e i r
2.
of the P r i m e
Minister's
discussion.
I n v i t e d the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s
i n f o r m the R e g i s t r a r
to
G e n e r a l of the C a b i n e f s d e c i s i o n t h a t ,
o n b a l a n c e , the q u e s t i o n a b o u t p a r e n t s
1
c o u n t r i e s of b i r t h
s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d i n the 1976 c e n s u s .
IANNEL
I N N E L
ference:
:(75) 2nd
nclusions,
nute 3
4.
T H E S E C R E T A R Y OF S T A T E F O R THE E N V I R O N M E N T
r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e C a b i n e t at t h e i r p r e v i o u s m e e t i n g had a g r e e d i n
p r i n c i p l e that the p r e s e n t Channel T u n n e l p r o j e c t m u s t b e r e g a r d e d as
abandoned, and the F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t s o i n f o r m e d , subject to m o r e
d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n b y the M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e on the Channel
Tunnel P r o j e c t .
S i n c e t h e n t h e M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e had
c o n s i d e r e d the m a t t e r and had c o m e to the s a m e c o n c l u s i o n .
As
r e g a r d s g i v i n g e f f e c t to the d e c i s i o n , the only r e a l a l t e r n a t i v e s in the
C o m m i t t e e 's v i e w w e r e to undertake s o m e months of n e g o t i a t i o n with
t h e F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t on the p o s s i b i l i t y of g o i n g f o r w a r d o n s o m e
n e w b a s i s , o r e l s e t o c l o s e down the p r o j e c t w h i l e k e e p i n g open the
p o s s i b i l i t y , a t m o d e s t e x p e n s e , o f t a k i n g i t up a g a i n i n f i v e o r t e n
years' time.
T h e b a l a n c e of o p i n i o n o n t h e C o m m i t t e e h a d b e e n i n
f a v o u r o f t h e s e c o n d a l t e r n a t i v e , b e c a u s e the f i r s t s e e m e d t o t h e m
l i k e l y t o e n d a g e r the e q u a l s h a r i n g of c h a r g e s b e t w e e n t h e t w o
G o v e r n m e n t s , t o p r o l o n g the planning b l i g h t c o n n e c t e d with the h i g h ­
s p e e d r a i l l i n k , and t o i n v o l v e t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t n e g o t i a t i n g i n
bad faith, a situation which would be e v i d e n t to a l l c o n c e r n e d .
Even
i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e r e n e g o t i a t i o n of t h e t e r m s f o r B r i t a i n ' s
m e m b e r s h i p of the E u r o p e a n E c o n o m i c C o m m u n i t y ( E E C ) , an
attempt to p r o l o n g negotiations with the F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t would in
h i s v i e w i n v o l v e the r i s k of c o m i n g to the point of f i n a l d e c i s i o n on
the p r o j e c t at an e v e n l e s s p r o p i t i o u s m o m e n t .
H e had seen the
F r e n c h A m b a s s a d o r the p r e v i o u s day and g i v e n h i m a m e s s a g e to
M C a v a i l l e , the F r e n c h M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t ; he had c i r c u l a t e d a
c o p y of this t o m e m b e r s of the C a b i n e t .
P r e d i c t a b l y , the A m b a s s a d o r
had i n d i c a t e d h i s d i s t r e s s a b o u t t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d t h e F r e n c h
w e r e s u r e t o adopt an indignant p o s t u r e in p u b l i c .
A s the Cabinet
w e r e a w a r e , he h i m s e l f would g r e a t l y h a v e p r e f e r r e d a y e a r * s d e l a y
a n d a m a t u r e d e c i s i o n o n t h e p r o j e c t , and he w a s s t i l l s u r e t h a t at
s o m e t i m e w e would need to have a fixed e l e c t r i c r a i l link b e t w e e n
B r i t a i n and F r a n c e ; n e v e r t h e l e s s the p r e s e n t p r o j e c t w a s c l e a r l y
d e a d , and it w a s s o m e c o n s o l a t i o n that it w a s the a c t i o n of the
c o m p a n i e s w h i c h had p r o v i d e d the o p p o r t u n i t y t o m a k e a c l e a r - c u t
decision.
In d i s c u s s i o n it w a s e m p h a s i s e d that t h i s d e c i s i o n w a s bound t o p l a c e
u s in a v e r y d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n in r e l a t i o n t o the F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t ,
n o t s i m p l y i n t h e E E C c o n t e x t but i n t e r m s o f o u r d i p l o m a t i c p o s t u r e
throughout the woricl.
E x p e r i e n c e showed that the F r e n c h would take
the u t m o s t a d v a n t a g e of a n y opportunity to d a m a g e us in the e y e s of
7
o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , f o r i n s t a n c e i n t h e E u r o - A r a b d i a l o g u e , and i t w a s
u n f o r t u n a t e t o g i v e t h e m p l a u s i b l e p r e t e x t s f o r a r g u i n g t h a t the
B r i t i s h could not be t r u s t e d to p e r s e v e r e in difficult c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
T h e f i r s t r e a c t i o n s f r o m the F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t t o the d e c i s i o n on
t h e C h a n n e l T u n n e l p r o j e c t s u g g e s t e d that t h e y w o u l d c e r t a i n l y t r y t o
a v o i d paying t h e i r s h a r e of the c h a r g e s a r i s i n g f r o m a b a n d o n m e n t ,
and t h a t t h e y w o u l d d o l i t t l e t o h e l p i n c l o s i n g d o w n t h e p r o j e c t i n
o r d e r l y fashion.
It m i g h t s t i l l b e p o s s i b l e t o l e s s e n t h e d a m a g e i f
w e w e r e p r e p a r e d to continue n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h the F r e n c h
G o v e r n m e n t f o r a m o n t h o r t w o , if n e c e s s a r y s e n d i n g a s e n i o r
M i n i s t e r to P a r i s f o r the purpose,,
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t w a s p o i n t e d out that t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n had c o m e
a b o u t a s a r e s u l t o f t h e c o m p a n i e s ' a c t i o n , a n d a s t a t e m e n t of t h e
B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t ' s p o s i t i o n b y 20 J a n u a r y w a s e s s e n t i a l .
The
t w o G o v e r n m e n t s had e q u a l l y b e e n p l a c e d in an i m p o s s i b l e p o s i t i o n by
t h e a c t i o n o f t h e c o m p a n i e s , and w e h a d p r e v i o u s l y r e c e i v e d t h e c l e a r
i m p r e s s i o n that t h e F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t t o o w o u l d h a v e p r e f e r r e d t o
have postponed the full construction stage f o r a y e a r or m o r e , e v e n
though the T u n n e l w a s a f a r b e t t e r i n v e s t m e n t f o r t h e m than f o r u s .
In t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e r e w a s n o a l t e r n a t i v e but t o e n d o r s e t h e
d e c i s i o n r e a c h e d b y t h e M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e , and t h e a c t i o n t a k e n
b y the S e c r e t a r y of State f o r the E n v i r o n m e n t to i n f o r m the F r e n c h
Government,
T H E P R I M E M I N I S T E R , s u m m i n g up the d i s c u s s i o n , said that the
C a b i n e t e n d o r s e d the c o n c l u s i o n that the p r e s e n t C h a n n e l T u n n e l
p r o j e c t m u s t n o w b e r e g a r d e d a s a b a n d o n e d , and t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t i t
should be c l o s e d d o w n i n such a w a y a s to k e e p o p e n t h e p o s s i b i l i t y ,
a t m o d e s t e x p e n s e , o f t a k i n g i t up a g a i n i n f i v e o r t e n y e a r s ' t i m e .
T h e y r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h i s w a s bound t o put u s i n a d i f f i c u l t p o s i t i o n in
r e l a t i o n t o t h e F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t , but t h e y e n d o r s e d t h e m e s s a g e
w h i c h the S e c r e t a r y of State f o r the E n v i r o n m e n t had sent t o the
F r e n c h M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t ; e v e r y effort must now be made to close
d o w n t h e p r o j e c t i n an o r d e r l y f a s h i o n .
T h e S e c r e t a r y of State f o r
t h e E n v i r o n m e n t s h o u l d m a k e a s t a t e m e n t t o P a r l i a m e n t on t h e
following Monday.
The Cabinet
­
1.
T o o k n o t e , w i t h a p p r o v a l , of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s s u m m i n g up of t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n . 2.
I n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e
E n v i r o n m e n t to a r r a n g e to c l o s e down the Channel
T u n n e l p r o j e c t w h i l e k e e p i n g open the possibility,;,
at m o d e s t e x p e n s e ,
ten y e a r s
3.
8
of t a k i n g i t u p a g a i n i n f i v e
time.
I n v i t e d the S e c r e t a r y of State f o r the
Envii'onment to make a statement to
on the f o l l o w i n g
Cabinet
or
Monday.
Office
16 J a n u a r y 1975
9
Parliament