§ 18. Mr. Jayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements are to be made for the supply of New Zealand butter and cheese to the United Kingdom consumer after 1977.
§ Mr. PeartThe detailed arrangements for implementing the European Council's decision of 10th March 1975 are under consideration in the Council of Agriculture Ministers.
§ Mr. JayHas my right hon. Friend seen the report in The Times of 5th February that the European Community is in no hurry to honour the commitment on New Zealand dairy products entered into in the re-negotiations? Can he assure us that he will resist any effort to dishonour this commitment?
§ Mr. PeartI hope my right hon. Friend will not always take for granted what appears in the newspapers, much as I respect The Times—it is a very fine newspaper. We are having negotiations next week and my right hon. Friend need not worry too much.
§ Mr. Raphael TuckIf my right hon. Friend were one of the New Zealand Ministers, would he be satisfied with the rate at which negotiations are proceeding?
§ Mr. PeartThe New Zealand Ministers are well pleased with the progress that we have made in their interests. I am always in close contact with them.
§ Mr. CrouchIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as a result of the subsidy of 11p a pound on butter, there has been a considerable increase in butter imports rather than a benefit to the British butter producers? Has this subsidy benefited the New Zealand butter producers?
§ Mr. PeartNew Zealand has had a traditional trade with us in butter and dairy products and that should be maintained. As I said earlier, New Zealand is naturally anxious about tariff arrangements, but we are anxious to protect our traditional suppliers of food, of which New Zealand is one.