HC Deb 09 May 1962 vol 659 cc427-9
20. Mr. Peart

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assurances regarding the marketing of cereals have now been given to Her Majesty's Government by representatives of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Soames

Our discussions with the E.E.C. must necessarily be confidential and the Government cannot disclose what assurances may be sought or received by Her Majesty's Government on cereals or other commodities during the course of the negotiations.

Mr. Peart

The Minister said recently when addressing the National Pig Breeders' Association: For cereals, for example, the system of target and intervention prices which the Six have adopted would seem in principle to provide a pretty effective form of guarantee. Throughout the Minister's speech there was really a defence of these proposals and the inference that the Minister agreed with them. Does he confirm what he said to the National Association? It is all very well saying that the negotiations are secret—I accept that—but the Minister, I suspect, wants to go into Europe and accept the levy system.

Mr. Soames

What I said was "in principle"—that was what I was referring to there. The question asked what assurances we had asked for with regard to the marketing of cereals. That is a broader and more detailed question and this I cannot disclose.

Mr. Peart

The Minister said in his speech that this was an effective form of guarantee. Does he confirm that?

Mr. Soames

There is no doubt that the levy system can be an effective form of guarantee to farmers.

Mr. Peart

Surely we ought to know more about what is happening in Brussels. If hon. Members opposite want to hide this, that is all very well. But surely in the cereal regulations the decision has been made. Does the Minister agree with this system and does he believe that it would be an effective guarantee from the point of view of our own home production?

Mr. Soames

A number of suggestions have been made on the subject of cereals and I cannot disclose them.

21. Mr. Peart

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in agricultural negotiations concerning the United Kingdom's entry to the Common Market; and why he has decided not to attend the Ministerial meeting in Brussels this week.

Mr. Soames

My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal has been keeping the House informed of the progress of negotiations and he will be making a further statement after the meeting this week. My right hon. Friend is responsible for the negotiations in Brussels and discussions at this week's meeting will not be such as to require my presence.

Mr. Peart

In view of the fact that here we are negotiating about important matters which affect British agriculture, is it not important that the Minister should be there? Is not the reason really that there is a deadlock? Why cannot the House be informed about the state of progress of the negotiations? Why all this secrecy? As I have asked before, are the Government going to have a private package deal?

Mr. Soames

There is no question of any deadlock, as the hon. Gentleman knows. My right hon. Friend is in charge of the negotiations covering the whole field—the very wide field—in which agriculture forms an important part. From time to time he may find it advisable to take some of his colleagues with him to these negotiations.

Mr. Walker

Does not my right hon. Friend have any information when the Common Market countries will reach agreement on those commodities which were not agreed in January? Will he confirm that the British Government do not propose to enter the Common Market until the detailed position of Common Market agricultural policy is known in respect of all commodities?

Mr. Soames

For a number of the more important commodities there is a timetable for them to be submitted to the Minister by 1st July. That is the timetable at present.

Mr. Shinwell

Does not the great reluctance on the part of the Government to furnish details about the progress of the negotiations on the agricultural and other aspects mean that one fine day, or perhaps one bad and tragic day, the Government will present a fait accompli to this House? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if the present arrangements for British agriculture are abandoned, he may find himself without a job?

Mr. Soames

As to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I think that he is fully aware that it would be intolerable and impossible for my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to carry on negotiations in Brussels if at the same time he was going to make public his position on this matter.