HC Deb 22 December 1965 vol 722 cc2077-8
15. Mr. Astor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what criteria he decided that the evidence was insufficient to enable him to claim a larger share in the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding for British producers.

Mr. Peart

The United Kingdom will, in fact, have a slightly larger share next year as a result of reallocating part of the shares allotted to the Netherlands and Yugoslavia. Within the terms of the Understanding, we could not have claimed more except by showing a significant change in market conditions in favour of United Kingdom bacon, and this we could not do.

Mr. Astor

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a very strong and growing demand for the high-quality bacon being produced at home and that much of the bacon being imported is of a lower quality? Should not, therefore, the home producer be allowed to make a substantial contribution to the increasing requirements under the international plan rather than the modest increase which the right hon. Gentleman is negotiating?

Mr. Peart

I am anxious to improve the bacon side of our industry. I shall be meeting representatives on this matter, but the hon. Gentleman should appreciate that we are bound to honour an international agreement which, after all, was signed by my predecessors. I could not break it.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Is it not a fact that producers in this country pressed the right hon. Gentleman very strongly to increase the percentage? Will he recall the things which he said when he was on this side of the House concerning this agreement and how the percentage ought to be increased? Does he not agree that he has put up a very poor performance on behalf of British agriculture?

Mr. Peart

Not at all. That is rather a silly suggestion. There has been an increase. I am bound by the agreement which was signed by my Tory predecessors. The hon. Member was himself responsible.