§ 4. Mr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it a condition of the grant of calf subsidy that the beast shall not be subsequently exported.
§ The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Anthony Stodart)My right hon. Friend does not consider such action to be either practical or desirable.
§ Mr. ClarkDoes the Minister realise that it is making the British farmer the laughing stock of Europe? Does he also realise that the British housewife objects to paying tax to get beef at a reasonable price only to find that that beef has gone abroad to subsidise the French housewife?
§ Mr. StodartNo, Sir, I do not agree that it is making the British farmer a laughing stock. If I may put to the hon. Gentleman the practical difficulties of his suggestion, the subsidy is paid to a fanner who owns and rears calves, and he has no control whatever over whether they are exported after he has sold them. Therefore, it would be totally impracticable to do what the hon. Gentleman suggests.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWhat were our total exports of beef to Europe in the last three months?
§ Mr. StodartI am afraid that I cannot answer that question without notice.