HC Deb 24 January 1968 vol 757 cc396-7
10. Mr. Monro

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to introduce import control of agricultural produce.

28. Mr. Kitson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now introduce a general policy of restrictions on agricultural imports.

Mr. Hoy

Many factors need to be taken into account in considering whether it would be in the country's interests to regulate imports of agricultural products. These naturally vary according to the product concerned. If in any particular case action affecting imports seems appropriate, bearing in mind our international obligations and general commercial policy, I would certainly not exclude the possibility.

Mr. Monro

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that we will never increase our share of the market while we are flooded by imports of foodstuffs from temperate climates which we could well produce ourselves?

Mr. Hoy

The hon. Gentleman knows that we are under some control because of the agreements which we have entered into with other countries. I remind him that these agreements were entered into by the Government of which he was a member.

Mr. Kitson

Would the hon. Gentleman explain how there can be increases for our farmers in the home market without levies—or is there to be a substantial increase in our deficiency payments?

Mr. Hoy

What the Minister said was that there would be an expanding market, and that we would expect our home industry to fulfil the major portion of that expansion. Let me remind the House that we took action on one or two products so that they did not affect the price of the home-produced article.

Miss Herbison

In whatever decisions are reached, will my hon. Friend ensure chat the position of the low-wage earner and those living on small fixed incomes is protected?

Mr. Hoy

As my right hon. Friend has said, one has always to take into account the effect of prices on the lower paid sections of the community. Therefore, what we intend to do in reaching these settlements is to be fair to all concerned, producer and consumer alike, but to remember that there is a consumer point of view.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the statement of the Minister which he quoted was a pre-develauation statement in relation to the National Plan? Surely, after devaluation, if we are to become more self-sufficient, as the Prime Minister has said, he must review his whole policy of import control.

Mr. Hoy

We are continually looking at the whole problem. As I said, and I hope clearly, we hope that by far the greater proportion of what we need can be supplied from home production.

Mr. Gardner

While welcoming any measures which the Minister may take to increase home food production and to help farmers generally, may I ask my hon. Friend to be a litle careful about the question of import controls, bearing in mind the dangerous air of protection in the world at the moment, which I am sure he would not want to see increased?

Mr. Hoy

As I explained to my hon. Friend, this is one of the points one has to consider. This is why it is not always a simple or easy decision. I am sure that all Governments have found this. There are so many factors to be taken into consideration before decisions can be made.