HC Deb 23 May 1974 vol 874 cc587-90
17. Mr. James

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what duties on beef imports from outside the EEC at present prevail.

Mr. Buchan

Imports of beef from developing Commonwealth countries are not subject to duty. Other Commonwealth imports are subject to duties at 8 per cent., while imports from third countries are subject to rates of up to 11 per cent. These charges are to an extent offset by monetary compensatory amounts in many cases.

Mr. James

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the present state of affairs may be satisfactory from the point of view of consumers but is disastrous to home beef producers, and that, in consequence, home beef prices are bound to rise dramatically next year?

Mr. Buchan

Yes—if some of the worst predictions of certain hon. Members opposite are fulfilled, but I do not see much sign of that at the moment. I think the point of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question was the effect of imports upon beef prices, but I do not see the relationship between that and the question of increasing beef production in this country.

Mr. Hooley

Why does my hon. Friend not remove these duties and allow us to get back to the sensible agricultural policy we had before we entered the Common Market?

Mr. Buchan

My hon. Friend knows the answer to the first part of his supplementary question. In reply to the second part, I agree that from all sections of industry there has been increasing demand for a return to the deficiency payments system.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

In that case, will the hon. Gentleman join us in the European Parliament in trying to get annulled the order whereby if one imports meat from third countries one has to import an equivalent amount of European meat from cold stores? Will Labour Members join us in getting that restriction lifted?

Mr. Buchan

The British Government have an effective voice, in the shape of my right hon. Friend, in discussions in the Council of Ministers, where it is proper that he should make the case for Britain.

Live Animals

(Export for Slaughter)

18. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in considering the findings of the O'Brien Committee; and if he will make a statement.

20. Miss Fookes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of his consultations with interested parties regarding the export of live animals for slaughter following the report of the O'Brien Committee.

23. Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has so far made in his consultations with interested organisations and with Ministers of EEC countries on the report of the committee on the export of animals for slaughter; and by what date he hopes to have completed these consultations.

Mr. Moyle

We have invited interested parties to let us have comments on the committee's recommendations by 24th May and we shall study these carefully. Arrangements are in hand for discussions in the European Community. We shall reach conclusions as soon as possible. My right hon. Friend has already given an assurance that we shall not resume export licensing for animals for slaughter at least until the O'Brien Report has been debated.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The right hon. Gentleman has been sitting on the report ever since he came into office, like a politically-motived broody hen. Is it not a fact that the committee found that the House was fundamentally misguided, and that hon. Members on the Government side were clearly politically motivated in banning the export of live animals last autumn on humanitarian grounds? In view of the damage that this is doing to the confidence of livestock producers, and its long-term detriment to the housewife, will the House be given the opportunity to reverse the decision as soon as possible?

Mr. Moyle

The House will be allowed to debate the issue as soon as possible, but I can hold out no hope for an early debate. I cannot accept that we have sat on the report. As soon as the report was available we started consultations, which are now about to end. We shall study them and produce our conclusions as quickly as possible and then we shall have a debate.

Mr. Beitb

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if he is not able to do that fairly soon the farming community will feel that he is deliberately delaying something which could help in the present difficult situation, and that those who are concerned with animal welfare will feel that he does not want to take the opportunity to do what the O'Brien Committee laid the ground for, namely, to build up a system of animal welfare safeguards across Europe?

Mr. Moyle

The House of Commons decided that there should be restraint on the export of live animals to the Continent. I ask hon. Members to bear in mind that there are strong feelings on both sides on this issue. We think it is worth while taking a little time to get the matter right in the end.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Bearing in mind the fact that the difference in profit between the export of live animals and carcases is only marginal, and perhaps based on the deplorable conditions of European slaughterhouses, would it not be better to abolish this monstrous trade instead of subsidising it by appointing a gang of inspectors who may be as easily hoodwinked as the O'Brien Committee?

Mr. Moyle

I note my hon. Friend's comment, but having embarked on the road of consultation I think we had better see where that leads us before going elsewhere.

Mr. Watt

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the animals involved are mature and specially bred for the European market, and that as that market is not now available the prices of these animals on the home market is disastrously low and is responsible for the tremendous fall in prices in the past few months?

Mr. Moyle

The hon. Gentleman may take it that we are aware of the general effect of the situation by now.

Mr. Winterton

Will the hon. Gentleman not admit that it is better for the House to reach a decision from a position of knowledge rather than ignorance as the House did in relation to the ban on the export of live animals for slaughter? Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the NFU is overwhelmingly in favour of the restrictions being lifted immediately? Does he not agree that overweight bullocks and barren cows have fetched extremely good prices in Europe and that it would help the beef and livestock sector very much if the ban could be lifted?

Mr. Moyle

I am all in favour of a decision being based upon knowledge rather than ignorance. I have never thought that the House of Commons was an ignorant body.