§ 45. Mr. du Cannasked the Prime Minister to what extent Her Majesty's Government have modified their policy with regard to the inclusion of horticultural products with agricultural products in relation to the proposals for a European Free Trade Area.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 16th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne). In that context agricultural products include horticultural products.
§ Mr. du CannWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to be slightly more particular, and to say whether the definition of agricultural products includes both edible and non-edible horticultural products?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the definition is as laid down broadly in Chapters 1 to 24 of the Brussels Nomenclature; and that is a definition of foodstuffs which has been accepted as covering all this range of goods.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsIn view of the reiterated statements of representatives of the French Government that France will not permit a Free Trade Area if agriculture is excluded, will the Prime Minister say whether he has in mind any early consultations with the French Government or with the Six?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Though I have no information as to the official view of the French Government, negotiations, as I said the other day, are going on at the official level, and I hope that they will soon be transferred to the Ministerial level.