HC Deb 15 February 1967 vol 741 cc614-5
35. Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the effects of the Anglo-Eire Agreement on agriculture in Ulster, he will seek forthwith to arrange for special grants to be made through the Ministry of Agriculture of Northern Ireland to Ulster farmers.

Mr. Peart

I do not accept that the Anglo-Eire Free Trade Area Agreement has had the damaging effects that the hon. and learned Member suggests.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that more than £10 million annually is being pumped into Eire agriculture under the Anglo-Eire Trade Agreement? Is he further aware that this is having a serious effect upon Ulster farmers, particularly upon the dead meat trade? Does he also realise that they object to paying money as United Kingdom taxpayers and seeing it being used by Eire in this way?

Mr. Peart

I am not aware of what the hon. and learned Member has said. The hon. Member is misunderstanding the Agreement and the purpose behind it. The Agreement has only been in operation for seven months. Hon. Members opposite did not object to it. I have said this repeatedly: hon. Members opposite acquiesced.

Mr. McNamara

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this country subsidises the whole community in Northern Ireland, and that this Agreement is for the benefit of people within Eire and the United Kingdom?

Mr. Peart

My hon. and learned Friend is quite right in the sense that the guarantee system operates in Northern Ireland, and I increased the Northern Ireland remoteness grant at last year's Review. The hon. Member is wrong in what he says because the problems he mentions are not affected by the Agreement.

Mr. Stodart

Although the right hon. Gentleman says that we on this side did not oppose the Agreement, does he recall the considerable reservations which my right hon. Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) expressed at the time, and which were overborne by the assurance of the Prime Minister that the Agreement would not in any way harm or prejudice the position of our own farmers? Does he hold to that position today?

Mr. Peart

Hon. Members opposite did not oppose the Anglo-Eire Agreement—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] They did not put forward any serious argument about reservations. The Agreement will not harm our home producers or Northern Ireland.

Sir Knox Cunningham

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again at an early date.