HC Deb 06 May 1963 vol 677 cc7-10
9. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the ratio between the quantities of imports of Argentine beef and homegrown beef marketed in the first three months of 1959, 1960 and 1961, respectively.

Mr. Soames

In the first quarter of these three years, Argentine imports were equivalent respectively to 22 per cent., 30 per cent. and 22 per cent. of home production.

Mr. Digby

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is perfectly possible to phase these imports from the Southern Hemisphere, which are fed on natural pasture, with our own, and cannot he come to an agreement with the Argentine Government whereby stability is reached in the future, such as in these three years?

Mr. Soames

I think that we have made a considerable step forward in the arrangements that we have made with the Argentine recently.

Mr. C. Royle

Will the right hon. Gentleman clear up a difficulty which seems to arise from Press reports? On Tuesday last it was reported that the right hon. Gentleman had entered into agreement with the Argentine to reduce the amount of meat coming into this country from there, and on Thursday a report appeared in the Press that the Argentine were refusing to reduce the amount of meat coming to Britain. Which is the truth?

Mr. Soames

This is not a matter of increasing or reducing. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Argentine Government informed Her Majesty's Ambassador in Buenos Aires on 27th April that in 1963 beef exports would be limited to 203,500 tons, which had been put to them during the negotiations. One must bear in mind in that context the quantities that have already been imported in the first quarter of this year. It is true that the Argentine Government placed on record their opposition to any unilateral restrictions on their export trade, but they agreed that the stability of the London market was in the mutual interest of both countries and that co-ordination of shipments as arranged was therefore desirable.

14. Sir A. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected level of imports of beef from 1st April to the end of the year compared with the same period in 1962; and what forecast he has made of total supplies, including home production, compared with last year.

Mr. Soames

I estimate that beef imports in the last nine months of this year will be lower than in the corresponding period of 1962 and I would expect total beef supplies on our market, including home production, also to be somewhat lower.

15. Sir A. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in order to restore and maintain confidence in the stability of the beef market, he will state the amount of beef expected to be imported in May, and publish similar forward estimates month by month.

Mr. Soames

Shipping schedules of chilled and frozen meat from Commonwealth and South American countries show that forecast arrivals of chilled beef in the four weeks ending 31st May are likely to be 16.8 thousand tons. A weekly summary of these forecast arrivals for up to six weeks ahead is available and can be obtained from my Department.

Sir A. Hurd

Would it not be helpful in providing rather better market intelligence if these forecasts could be published either by my right hon. Friend's Ministry or through some other authentic organisation so that everybody concerned in the meat trade could know what is coming from abroad?

Mr. Soames

They are available to the trade Press. Indeed, they are figures originating from the trade, but they are, of course, available to any other organ of the Press which chooses to make use of them.

Mr. C. Royle

Could the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government have no idea in mind of very severe restrictions on imported meat? The need of the consumer has to be remembered in all these matters. If the right hon. Gentleman would give that assurance it would give a lot of satisfaction.

Mr. Soames

Of course, in our deliberations we will be bearing in mind striking the proper balance, as we believe, between the interests of the producer and of the consumer and of the taxpayer.

22. Mr. Bullard

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the limiting figure of 203,000 tons of Argentine beef to be imported in 1963 compares with the figures for 1960, 1961, and 1962, respectively.

Mr. Soames

Imports of beef from the Argentine during 1960, 1961 and 1962, were 203,000 tons, 153,000 tons and 181,000 tons, respectively.

Mr. Bullard

Am I right in assuming that these figures indicate that this is not really a considerable reduction on previous years? Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance about the Press reports received from the Argentine last week about the discussions? Is it the case that a reduction in the figures has been secured by the Argentine having reached the end of the quantities it wished to shift? Has there been any curtailment of the amounts which would otherwise have come had there been no agreement?

Mr. Soames

The important point is that the right quantity should be coming to the market during the remaining nine months of the year. Taking into consideration that 76,000 tons came on to the market during the first quarter of this year, the total of 203,500 tons for the year is a satisfactory level.

Mr. Hilton

Will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that in future we do not have too many imports at a time when our farmer, are able to produce plenty'?

Mr. Soames

Under our present arrangements there is a guaranteed price for farmers and also virtually unrestricted imports from foreign sources.

Mr. Hooson

Has any proposal been made to the Argentine Government that its exports of beef to this country should be phased to occur largely during the months when supplies from our home producers are short?

Mr. Soames

The phasing of supplies is important but one can take it that Where a country sends more than a certain quantity of a commodity to a market it is in its own interests to phase those supplies so as to get the best return possible.