HC Deb 19 January 1971 vol 809 cc710-1
23. Mr. Wellbeloved

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made to the meat trade in respect of the Government's plans to introduce a meat tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prior

Details of the Government's proposed levy schemes have been given in confidence to meat trade organisations at a series of meetings held recently. Discussions with other Governments are still taking place. I am not in a position to announce details of the proposals at present.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Bearing in mind the Conservative Party's election pledge to halt the rise in prices at a stroke, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that his plot to impose a meat tax on the housewife's family joint is a scandalous betrayal of that pledge? When can we expect a statement telling us the facts of how this disgraceful meat tax will be imposed on the British housewife?

Mr. Prior

The needle of the hon. Gentleman's gramophone record seems to get stuck in the same place.

Mr. Alfred Morris

While I think that the right hon. Gentleman should answer the supplementary question of my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Cray-ford (Mr. Wellbeloved) before attempting to answer mine, may I ask whether he can give even a preliminary idea of the reaction of the New Zealand Government to these plans for levies on meat imports?

Mr. Prior

The negotiations with New Zealand are, of course, confidential, but I assure the House that they have been extremely cordial.

Mr. J. T. Price

Is it not becoming increasingly obvious to hon. Members and to millions of our constituents outside that the Government are so deeply dedicated to taking us willy-nilly into the Common Market that they are deliberately seeking to increase the prices of food in order to bring British prices nearer to Continental prices so as to make entry easier from the political point of view?

Mr. Prior

I make it plain that the interim levy scheme on which we are working is one that we shall introduce whether we go into the Common Market or not.

Mr. Wellbeloved

On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, in view of the disgraceful nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman should give his notice in the conventional form.