§ 21. Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what way the alterations in policy which he recently negotiated with the EEC will affect the United Kingdom's ability to purchase food from New Zealand.
§ Mr. PeartDirectly, not at all; but indirectly the increase in the butter subsidy has probably averted a fall in butter consumption.
§ Mr. TuckIs my right hon. Friend aware that not long ago—a matter of weeks—Mr. Walding, the Minister of Overseas Trade in New Zealand, said that cheap food from New Zealand would still be available to this country? Is it not about time that we took advantage of that situation? In answering Question No. 8 from the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Body), my right hon. Friend gave figures for the cheese duties that I found disconcerting.
§ Mr. PeartI assure my hon. Friend that I am concerned with Commonwealth trade and with New Zealand. Indeed, that will be a subject within the context of renegotiation.
§ Mr. JoplingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as a result of his disastrous negotiations with the EEC, we are likely to be able to buy a good deal less beef from our own sources, let alone New Zealand, in future? Is he aware that he infuriated farmers in his own part of Cumbria? Is he aware that after his meeting with the Cumbrian NFU last weekend it issued a statement saying that it was appalled that a Minister of Agriculture who for 33 years had supported guarantees should have made a settlement without any guarantees for beef producers following his Brussels negotiations? Is the right hon. Gentleman making arrangements to see that at future meetings with farmers the back door is unlocked, so that he may creep out, as his Labour predecessor did?
§ Mr. PeartI assure the hon. Member that my package deal in Brussels was welcomed in this House, even by Conservative Members. I believe that it struck the right balance between the interests of producers and consumers. I am answering 627 questions on New Zealand at present. I am prepared at any time to answer questions relating to the farmers of Cumbria. I am always ready to meet them. There is no question of my sneaking out through any back door.
§ Mr. JayDoes not the present situation show that the system of intervention buying without guaranteed prices, introduced by the Conservatives, is just as damaging to producers as to consumers? Would it not now be the logical step for the Government to return to the system of guaranteed prices and deficiency payments?
§ Mr. PeartI have a certain sympathy with what my right hon. Friend says, but at present I am answering questions dealing with New Zealand.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartIs the Minister aware that the remarks attributed to the New Zealand Minister of Trade are a travesty of what he actually said—
§ Mr. Stodart—and that there is no cheap food left in New Zealand or anywhere else? Is he also aware that he was immediately criticised from the Opposition Front Bench for his failure to provide either intervention or a guarantee for beef? Does he recall that during his last period of office his effigy was burnt? How long does he think it will be before farmers do it again?
§ Mr. PeartThis is a Question relating to the Commonwealth. It was the right hon. Gentleman's party which did not negotiate a sensible agreement for New Zealand dairy products. It was his party which was responsible for the Treaty of Accession. We shall seek to renegotiate it.