European Economic Community

HC Deb 20 April 1971 vol 815 cc927-32

10. Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his study of the common fisheries policy of the European Economic Community and its effect upon the United Kingdom's inshore fishing industry.

Mr. Prior

I have nothing to add to my reply on 30th March to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins).—[Vol. 814, c. 334.]

Mr. Body

I appreciate that my right hon. Friend has received and studied a memorandum from the Fisheries Organisation Society. Will he give an undertaking not to make up his mind finally on the subject without consulting a body which is representative of more than 100 fishery organisations?

Mr. Prior

I certainly give that undertaking straight away to my hon. Friend, and to all other bodies interested in this difficult problem.

Mr. James Johnson

Representing Lowestoft, the Minister must know the feelings in all coastal constituencies about this matter. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a joint meeting of M.P.s on both sides of the House representing fisheries interests, and we have unanimously sent a letter to his colleague the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster? Has the Minister seen the letter? If so, would he care to comment on it?

Mr. Prior

I have not seen that letter, although I have seen the Motion. I am well aware not only of the strong feelings in the fishery constituencies but of the strong feelings in the House. The negotiations have not yet begun. The E.E.C. has been made aware of the importance which we attach to the problem, and I and my right hon. and learned Friend will keep the House fully informed of what happens.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind two specific questions in the negotiations: first, the necessity to prevent over-fishing by anybody, so that stocks will not decrease; secondly, the special problems of shellfish, such as mussels and oysters, which are physically planted and, under our law, owned by people, entitled to reap the benefit from them, and the need to ensure that this exclusive use remains for those who planted them?

Mr. Prior

Yes, Sir. These are two problems which we shall certainly want to consider when we come to discuss this matter.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

I understand the Minister's difficulty about giving specific details while negotiations proceed, but would he give the House an undertaking that British inshore fishermen will be treated with the same circumspection and the same degree of protection as French inshore fishermen have been treated by the French Government within the Comman Market at present?

Mr. Prior

I think the right hon. Gentleman refers to a three-mile limit, which the French have at present. At this stage, I do not want to be drawn on the negotiations, which have not even begun, but I am well aware of what the inshore fishing industry requires. I shall do everything in my power to obtain it for the industry, and I shall report to the House as soon as we know more.

4. Mr. Mawby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans his Department have to sponsor increased contacts between farmers in the United Kingdom and those in the European Economic Community.

Mr. Prior

I am glad to say that our farmers' organisations are actively developing their contacts with those in the Community, and I think the initiative is best left with them.

Mr. Mawby

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in the view of most people, contacts of this nature are very beneficial and should be encouraged as much as possible?

Mr. Prior

Yes, I agree entirely, and we shall do all we can to help.

16. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his latest estimates about the extent to which beef production would benefit from Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

I foresee good prospects for United Kingdom beef producers within an enlarged Community.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Would my hon. Friend not agree that higher end prices for beef cattle, which we should expect in an enlarged European Community, would be of particular value to the traditional stock-raising areas of Scotland, whether high ground or low ground?

Mr. Stodart

Undoubtedly, Sir, and the guide price in the Commu1nity is considerably higher than it is in this country. One should not neglect the fact that feed costs would rise, but, I think, not enough to offset the advantage. The use of hill ground would bring into discussion the question of the production grants, and, as my hon. Friend knows, these are a matter for negotiation.

Mr. Douglas

If the Minister is going for quality, would he indicate what services his Department is likely to offer housewives, especially in Scotland, so that they may have a clear indication that the quality they are paying for is the quality being sold?

Mr. Stodart

Giving guidance to housewives in Scotland is a matter for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

17. Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to seek to visit the countries of the European Economic Community in the near future.

23. Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent official consultations he has had with European Economic Community Ministers of Agriculture.

Mr. Prior

Subject to consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, I am ready to visit any of the European Economic Community countries if it would serve a useful purpose. My hon. Friend and I have already met some of the Ministers of the Six and their deputies on various occasions, and I have recently received an invitation to visit Italy which I intend to take up when a mutually convenient date has been agreed.

Mr. Gummer

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it has been a considerable help to our fanning community that he has made a number of speeches saying how helpful it would be to that community were we to enter the E.E.C.? Would he seek to see what has happened in Italy, where the agricultural community has been encouraged considerably by Italy's entry into the E.E.C., despite considerable doubts when Italian entry was first mooted?

Mr. Prior

I agree with my hon. Friend.

Mr. Spence

What arrangements, if any, exist in the Community in which my right hon. Friend will probably be able to take part for consultations between Agriculture Ministers on a regular basis?

Mr. Prior

The Agriculture Ministers within the Community have frequent meetings. They have also had meetings at various times in Brussels with my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The more meetings that take place with the Council of Ministers, the better it will be and the more emphasis and the more influence we can bring to bear on them.

Mr. Heffer

If the right hon. Gentleman visits the E.E.C. countries, will he make a tour of the various warehouses that are stocked with food and consider the high prices that working people in the E.E.C. countries pay for their food, and then return and explain to us the advantages of accepting the E.E.C's agricultural policy?

Mr. Prior

As for the accusation that warehouses are stocked with food, the fact is that there is now no surplus of butter in the Common Market.

35. Mr. Mawby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he now has to inform British farmers about the advantages which they would be likely to obtain for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on the terms now envisaged.

Mr. Prior

I believe that British farmers are generally alive to the advantages they would gain from membership, and I am keeping their representatives fully informed of developments.

Mr. Mawby

Has my right hon. Friend any plans to set up an advisory body to assist farmers to accommodate the new situation which obviously will arise if we join the E.E.C.?

Mr. Prior

All farmers are pretty well informed about the possibilities if we join the E.E.C., and, in addition, there are now publications coming out which, I think, will help in this respect. Hon. Members can do a lot themselves to convince farmers of the advantages.

Mr. Hooson

Does not the Minister realise that, particularly in hill farming areas, what farmers want to know is which grants and subsidies will be payable under the Common Market arrangements and which will not?

Mr. Prior

I am well aware of that, and in due course we shall be able to tell them.

Mr. Marten

As it is the Government's duty to be absolutely fair and objective in presenting the Common Market case to the country, what steps are they taking to tell farmers of the disadvantages, since this is not apparent in their recent propaganda through the Post Office?

Mr. Prior

I hope that my hon. Friend is not suggesting that we have not been fair and objective in putting the Government's case. As regards agriculture and horticulture, I think that no one will accuse me of failing to tell hortculturists of some of the difficulties involved.

36. Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on the consumption of liquid milk.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate, but, as the price of liquid milk to the consumer is likely to be lower if the United Kingdom were a member of the European Economic Community than it would otherwise be, the effect of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Com- munity would probably be favourable to liquid milk consumption.

Mr. Gummer

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he go out of his way to make sure that facts of this kind are made clear to the public, who are at present considerably confused by the nonsense spoken by those who are opposed to our entry into the Common Market?

Mr. Stodart

Yes, Sir; if my hon. Friend cares to put down other Questions of this kind, he will receive similar answers.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

What does the hon. Gentleman envisage will take the place of the Milk Marketing Board in the event of our entering the Common Market?

Mr. Stodart

It has been established that the marketing boards will be able to carry out certain of their functions, and I very much hope—this is founded on the interest which, in my experience, people in France and Germany have shown in the efficiency of our marketing boards— that we shall be able to carry over many of the functions.