§ 10. Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will pay an official visit to Launceston.
§ Mr. PardoeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his absence will be mourned in Launceston? Is he aware, too, that beef prices in Launceston market have been catastrophically low, and that although they are now a little better the action taken was belated? Has the right hon. Gentlemen seen Colin Cullimore's estimate that in 1976 beef and other meat prices will rise by 40 per cent. to 50 per cent.? Will he now guarantee that he will be as slow to act on excessively high producer prices in 1976 as he was to raise the ruinously low producer prices in 1974?
§ Mr. PeartI think it is the hon. Gentleman who is being mournful. The statement by Colin Cullimore is exaggerated, and I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman quoted it as a fact. It was speculation, and I do not accept what he said. The decision to put a floor to the market was right and, in the circumstances, I obtained it sooner than many people thought was possible.
§ Mr. SkinnerDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the real reason for so much hostile criticism of beef prices and 1922 other matters relating to agricultural affairs is the scrapping of the deficiency payments system and the haste to get into the Common Market, and that the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) made a valuable contribution to the campaign conducted by the Leader of the Opposition? Does my right hon. Friend agree that the quicker we get out of the Common Market the better?
§ Mr. PeartMy hon. Friend knows that the policy of the Labour Party, of which he is a member, is to renegotiate the terms of entry. However, I have some sympathy with his view about the attitude of the Liberal spokesman and also of Conservative Members.