European Economic Community

HC Deb 21 June 1967 vol 748 cc1705-9

22. Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the information concerning agricultural matters supplied by the British Mission to the European Economic Community is adequate for the present application; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peart

The information supplied by our Delegation in Brussels has been fully adequate for the Government's consideration of the implications of the common agricultural policy and of the position which we should accordingly adopt in negotiations with the E.E.C.

Mr. Jopling

Is the Minister aware that the Head of the British Mission in Brussels gave evidence upstairs to the Select Committee on Agriculture that he has been asking for another agricultural expert since last October? Is he suggesting today that our Ambassador in Brussels is talking through his hat?

Mr. Peart

I am saying what has been said before, that the staffing of the Delegation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. I am satisfied that our assessment of the implications of a common agricultural policy, summarised in the recent White Paper, is correct. We get all the information, and we reproduce it. Hon. Gentlemen opposite always attack the Government for increasing the number of civil servants. Now they are asking me to have more. I would remind them that we are not negotiating yet.

23. Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many officials he has seconded to the British Mission to the European Economic Community in the last two months; and how many he intends to make in the immediate future.

Mr. Peart

No officials from my Department have been seconded to the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Communities in the last two months in addition to the Assistant Secretary, who has been there since January, 1965. The question of future secondments is bound up with the overall staffing of the Delegation for the purpose of negotiations, and I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 5th June.—[Vol. 747, c. 107.]

Mr. Jopling

Is the Minister aware that that is a most unsatisfactory Answer? The Select Committee on Agriculture has been told that when application to join the Community is made, more staff will be needed. Is he further aware that the Chief Agricultural Officer at the Mission has said that it takes a new man six months before he is any good to the Mission?

Mr. Peart

I cannot accept that. I shall be appearing before the Select Committee, and I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman will question me about it. I believe that we have adequate facilities for obtaining all the information about the effect of a common agricultural policy on British agriculture. I would remind him again that we are not yet negotiating.

Mr. Peter Mills

Is it not a fact that some of the best agricultural economists have been transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Department of Economic Affairs just when they are needed?

Mr. Peart

I do not accept that. It is not right. I have a very fine Economics Section. In addition, a lot of our advice comes not from within my Department but from a special arrangement which we have with various universities.

26. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has now given to steps required to maintain winter milk supplies in the event of this country joining the European Economic Community.

Mr. Peart

The arrangements needed to maintain winter milk supplies if we were to join the E.E.C. would be a matter for discussion with the Community.

Mr. Godman Irvine

What work has been done by the right hon. Gentleman and his advisers about this vital matter, which the Select Committee has been told might lead to rationing in the country?

Mr. Peart

We have done a lot of work on this. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have a different system whereby we emphasise the liquid milk market and give incentives for milk produced in the winter period. This is an important matter, and we are well aware of it. There are various possible solutions, but it will be a matter for discussion if we ever negotiate.

35. Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will cause a working group to be set up to study the effect upon upland farms of loss of subsidy following on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Peart

The position of upland farms in Common Market conditions would depend on the arrangements agreed for agriculture in an enlarged community and I doubt, therefore, whether it would be useful to set up any such working group at this stage. I am, of course, keenly aware of the special difficulties of hill farmers and we shall naturally bear their interests in mind.

Mr. Morgan

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that as there is evidence that between one-half and two-thirds of the net income of upland farms is represented by subsidies, this poses a special problem and builds up a strong case for an early and detailed examination of this problem?

Mr. Peart

As my hon. Friend knows, I referred to this problem in my White Paper. I recognise the problems of the hill and upland areas. These are areas which we must seek to protect, and we have this in mind.

Mr. Gwynfor Evans

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that because Welsh agriculture is so dependent on dairy farming and on hill farms, the adverse effects on Welsh agriculture of our entry into the Common Market will be worse than on the agriculture of any of the other countries of Great Britain?

Mr. Peart

I accept that there are problems for Welsh agriculture in relation to hill and upland farms. These problems are also peculiar to many parts of the north of England and Scotland. I have emphasised this in my White Paper. We are well aware of the problems.

Mr. Bessell

In view of the anxiety which has been expressed by hill farmers, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) and set up a working party to examine this situation?

Mr. Peart

I do not think that there is any need for a working party. After all, I have said that I as the Minister and the Department are well aware of the problems, and I have stressed these in my White Paper. I do not think that it would be to anyone's advantage to have a separate working party outside.

Mr. Godber

Will the right hon. Gentleman realise that the answers he is giving this afternoon give the impression that while he emphasises that he is aware of the problems, he does not seem to be doing much about solving them? In answer to a previous question he used the phrase, "if we go into negotiations". Will he regard this as a matter of urgency, and one to be treated seriously?

Mr. Peart

I do not know how the right hon. Gentleman can say that we can solve this problem when we are not negotiating. This is an absurd situation. The right hon. Gentleman always advocated entry without any safeguards.

Mr. Godber

That is untrue.