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TO THE casual visitor in the Strangers' Ga ery of the House of Commons it was example of how British democracy is bei exported to Europe....
Foreign Office Minister of State Fra Judd had outlined the business to be di cussed by Ministers of the European Co munity during December and was then bo barded with suggestion or demands that p ticular British interests should be safeguard during the talks.
To each idea Mr Judd was receptive. "I c assure the Honoratile Gentlemen" . . . .
agree" . . "I have made plain" . . . . "T Government always honour th obligations".
Whether it was a sheepmeat regime, t regional fund, fishing or Turkey, it was vious that the British representatives wo be in there pitching.
Transport? Yes, that topic was featured tc Jeremy Thorpe was not bothered ab national taxation systems for commerc vehicles, investment in transport infrastr ture projects or Community driving licenc at least not that afternoon.
But he was concerned about the discussi on Community quotas for industrial ro haulage between Member States.
For, as he told Mr Judd, someone in constituency of North Devon had £200, worth of goods for export to France, but co not get the necessary quota to carry them.
The system needed radical reorganisati declared Mr Thorpe, and was assured t Transport Ministers would be discussing p posals for increases in quotas.
So it all seemed to end quite happily. this was the calm before the squall.
Labour MP Nigel Spearing had won ballot among Backbenchers to choose a s ject for debate, and Mr Judd had scare gathered up his papers before the discuss started — about the lack of time to disc Common Market rules before they w made.
It was obvious that Mr Spearing had str a winner, for MPs of all parties agreed him that they were fighting uphill with hand behind their backs.
Tory Roger Moate, for instance, told story of drivers' hours and distance Ii which, it appeared, were coming into f without MPs really knowing what was g on.
Leader of the House Michael Foot wa sympathy. But time was the problem.
"If the House of Commons were to dem that it should give adequate time to all t matters precious little time would be left And there he was cut off short by "Or Order" from the Chair.
It was seven o'clock. and time had run