§ Q1. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister whether the statement of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the policy of Great Britain with regard to the agriculture policy of the Six, made in France whilst on an official visit to the French Minister of Agriculture, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Prime Minister not aware that the Minister of Agriculture said that Britain would be prepared to accept the agricultural provisions of the Six? Will this not mean a "stomach tax" on Commonwealth food imported into this country in order to subsidise European farmers? Does the Prime Minister approve of that?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not think that that is a right deduction from what the Minister of Agriculture said. He pointed out that there are different methods of supporting agriculture which are followed, and I think I should remind the House that my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, in his statement to the Six on 10th October, said that we would need a long transitional period, not only in the interests of United Kingdom agriculture, but to allow—if any increases in food prices are to follow—for them to be brought about gradually.
§ Mr. G. BrownDoes the Prime Minister accept the Press report which, I gather, came from the Press conference which the Minister gave, in which he said, firstly, that the differences between our point of view on agriculture and that of the Six were enormous; secondly, that the standard of living of the British farmers is high and no one suggested that that advantage should be sacrificed; and thirdly, that the Common Market must be accepted as a whole, including agriculture? Does the Prime Minister accept that as a statement of Government policy, and does he think that it leaves much room for negotiation?
§ The Prime MinisterWhen he said that the differences were enormous, he was pointing out that we have a system of support which, broadly speaking, although by no means entirely, is carried by the taxpayer and the consumer, whereas the Continental system is almost entirely on the consumer. With regard to the other question, it is best to see how these negotiations proceed and then we shall have to make our judgment.
§ Mr. JegerDoes the Prime Minister not think that it is rather a pity that we should learn about our agricultural negotiations from Press reports of speeches made abroad by the Minister of Agriculture? Would it not be a help to those who, like myself, are in favour—if the terms are right—of our going into the Common Market if we could have full and frank statements in the House to enable us to make up our minds without prejudice? Would the Prime Minister not agree, for example, that even professional co-operators might be in favour of co-operation in 200 Europe if they were informed a little more about it?
§ The Prime MinisterI understand the hon. Gentleman's point of view, and I think that the whole of what he has said and what we feel can be summed up in his words "if the terms are right". The object of the negotiations is to see if we can get terms which are right.