§ 15. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of sums to be paid to the Irish Government in respect of fatstock guarantees under the Free Trade Agreement in the year 1967–68.
§ Mr. PeartThere are no fatstock guarantees under the agreement, but the estimate of sums to be paid to the Irish Government in respect of carcase meat under the Irish Free Trade Agreement in the year 1967–68 is £1,850,000.
§ Sir J. GilmourIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this large sum of money is not being used further to subsidise the price of Irish cattle and thus depress the market in this country, costing our Exchequer a large sum of money as a result?
§ Mr. PeartIt does not affect fatstock; it deals only with carcase meat. This is one matter which I have been considering.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIs it not an excessive and grossly over-generous figure?
§ Mr. PeartI do not think so. This was the agreement reached, and we also have an assurance of the best endeavours of the Irish Government for an increase in stores of 638,000 which our fatteners want in this country. The agreement was a good agreement.