§ 18. Sir Frank Pearsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of mutton and lamb has been imported from the Irish Republic during 1967 up to the latest available date; and how this compares with the same period in 1966 and 1965.
§ Mr. Peart1,808 tons of mutton and lamb were imported from the Irish Republic in the first four months of 1967. 1703 In the same period in 1966 imports were 1,578 tons, and in 1965 they were 1,400 tons.
§ Sir Frank PearsonWill the right hon. Gentleman accept that it was his Government that negotiated this treaty for the imports of agricultural produce from Eire? Will he further accept that last autumn the distortion of the home market resulting from these imports caused grave concern in agriculture? Will he also accept that the figures he has given this afternoon give agriculture no confidence whatsoever that exactly the same situation will not arise in the coming autumn? Will he give an undertaking to look more closely into these matters?
§ Mr. PeartThe hon. Member has really made a speech. It is obvious that we do accept responsibility, because I was there to negotiate. We had difficulties last autumn which were not specifically due to the treaty. I have repeated this over and over again. Indeed, I have taken action and we are having discussions with the Irish to prevent a recurrence.