HC Deb 16 May 1957 vol 570 cc563-4
38. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the desirability of requiring the repayment of the price guarantee subsidy on future exports of eggs so as to make clear beyond all possible doubt that Great Britain is not subsidising exports to the Continent.

Mr. Amory

I will certainly bear this suggestion in mind when considering what steps it would be most appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to take to control the export of eggs if this should be necessary.

Mr. Hurd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on this side of the House are anxious that this country should have a clean record in the matter of export subsidies on farm goods?

Mr. Amory

This is not a specific export subsidy. While strictly speaking it is not against the provisions of the G.A.T.T., we are anxious to make it clear that it is not our deliberate intention to subsidise eggs for export.

Mr. Wiley

What is the amount of subsidy involved? Will the right hon. Gentleman try to avoid the grave embarrassment which we have suffered in the West German market and which, as I am sure he will agree, has not helped our relations with Denmark? Will he take steps at least to ensure that this sort of difficulty does not arise again in the future?

Mr. Amory

I think the amount of the subsidy involved in the first three months of this year was £70,000. Replying to the second part of the question, those are, of course, exactly the considerations which I had in mind in giving my Answer just now.