HC Deb 22 May 1975 vol 892 cc1592-3
5. Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement on the progress of his negotiations with the EEC over aids for the glasshouse sector of horticulture.

Mr. Peart

I reported my latest discussions with the EEC Council of Ministers to the House on 1st May.

Mr. Latham

Have not the Lardinois negotiations and the distress in the horticulture sector in the last five months shown absolutely clearly that the subsidy should never have been removed last December?

Mr. Peart

As the hon. Gentleman knows full well, the subsidy was a temporary one. We acted long before our Community partners and, indeed, the rate given was much higher, too.

Mr. Jopling

Is it true that when the Minister was in Brussels a short while ago he voted to allow States within the Community to continue to pay the subsidies after the present subsidy expires? If he did that, how can he possibly refuse that subsidy to British growers when, if it is not paid to them, they will be exposed to unfair competition from other countries which he has allowed to pay that subsidy in the Community?

Mr. Peart

The hon. Gentleman cannot get away with making wild accusations such as that. [Interruption.] I hope that hon. Members will let me answer the question. The hon. Gentleman knows that the deal which has been suggested, and which still has to be examined, is part of a package deal which involves not merely a direct subsidy of the kind about which we are talking but also modernisation of glasshouses, and so on. I shall be discussing this when I go to Luxembourg on Monday.

Mr. Stephen Ross

Is the Minister aware that our glasshouse growers have not only had to suffer the removal of the subsidy on oil entirely but are also having to face unfair competition from countries such as Romania, from which large quantities of tomatoes are being dumped here, and Colombia which is dumping carnations? If he is not to take action on these subjects, surely he must reintroduce the oil subsidy.

Mr. Peart

I shall watch closely the events affecting this matter. However, I cannot make any statement at this stage. We take the view that we must remember the national interest as well. There are other industries which could also be subsidised.