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European Communities (Finance) Bill

I think that the United Kingdom should be a full member of the European Union. One of the very few good things that the John Major Government did was to decide, after winning the debate in the European Union, to go for widening rather than deepening—that is, for more members rather than closer co-operation between members. That position was taken initially only by the United Kingdom, with some support from Denmark. What surprises me is the following, on which I would like my right hon. Friend to comment. It is intellectually coherent to say, ““We are against enlargement””, as it is to say, ““We are in favour of enlargement””—as I am—““but recognise that in reality there will be a cost to that enlargement””. There is indeed a cost to that enlargement. However, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is not intellectually coherent to say that one is in favour of enlargement, particularly to eastern Europe, where countries are still very poor, but that there will be no cost to that enlargement? That is intellectually incoherent rubbish.