Letter: Logical reasons for Maastricht

Sir: The Maastricht treaty takes a further significant step towards the development of a united European Community where integration and co-operation are determined by sovereign states acting in close harmony and mutual support.

Contrary to the misgivings, accidental or deliberate, of a minority of MPs, the treaty is merely a logical sequence from the original treaties, the Single European Act and the various EC summit decisions in which British and other governments have put together common, mutually beneficial goals. Hence Maastricht, itself a mild and restrained treaty, is emphatically not a loss of basic sovereignty nor any increase in the Commission's powers; quite the reverse. Furthermore, national parliaments are to have an augmented role with the European Parliament and the other institutions, for the common good.

The Ratification Bill received a majority of 244 on Second Reading. Whatever the nature of any motion on 4 November, the clear will of the House surely means a definitive majority again for the paving debate and at least a reasonably rapid Committee stage.

We call on all our colleagues to give wholehearted support to the Government in a resounding result for the treaty and for the Bill's further progress next Wednesday.

Yours faithfully,

HUGH DYKES

ROBERT ADLEY

MICHAEL ALISON

DAVID ASHBY

EDWINA CURRIE

ANTHONY GRANT

JOHN HUNT

GEOFFREY JOHNSON SMITH

DAVID MADEL

TIM RATHBONE

ANDREW ROWE

CYRIL TOWNSEND

House of Commons

London, SW1

29 October