HC Deb 26 February 1976 vol 906 cc606-8
10. Mr. Gould

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the EEC Commission's proposals for a sheepmeat régime.

Mr. Peart

I have already told the Council of Agriculture Ministers that I cannot accept the Commission's proposals as they now stand. I am not prepared to agree to the introduction of any Community arrangements for sheepmeat which do not safeguard our essential interests, including our third-country supplies.

Mr. Gould

Does my right hon. Friend accept that if, in addition to the Common Market duty of 16 per cent. rising to 20 per cent. which we must now place on lamb imports, we were compelled to impose the whole lunatic machinery of the CAP, lamb prices would increase by 50 per cent. and lamb would virtually disappear from the British table? Does my right hon. Friend accept that his reply is extremely welcome? If such a proposal should re-emerge, he would earn the support of the whole House if he were to resist it with great strenuousness.

Mr. Peart

I hope that my hon. Friend will accept that the Community recognises the importance of third countries, such as New Zealand. I have been in close touch with New Zealand Government and I consider that the tariff of 20 per cent. is too high. I have always defended the access by New Zealand supplies, and I shall continue to do so.

Mr. Burden

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread unrest in this country about the circumstances in which live sheep are sent to the Community? What steps is he taking to expand the meat carcase trade from this country?

Mr. Peart

The hon. Gentleman has asked me another question. I was dealing with the subject of sheepmeat.

Mr. Jay

Will the Minister resist this further encroachment on Britain's food supplies, which is totally unjustified because the Continental EEC countries are not large consumers or producers of lamb?

Mr. Peart

I cannot accept that. I have constant meetings with my New Zealand friends—I stress that I regard them as friends—and I defend their interests in the Community. I believe that in principle their situation has been accepted.

Mr. Sott-Hopkins

Does the Minister agree that the Community accepts the principle of the entry of New Zealand meat and has withdrawn its proposals on the subject of sheepmeat? Does he also agree that the whole exercise is aimed at obtaining access to the European market for United Kingdom sheepmeat and Irish sheepmeat at reasonable prices and time?

Mr. Peart

I accept the hon. Gentleman's view, which is quite correct. I am anxious that the régime should not harm our interests and I have stated that over and over again.

Mr. Geraint Howells

Whatever sheepmeat regulations are introduced in the near future, will the Minister give an assurance that he will hold on to the present market price system for lamb and will not go into intervention buying?

Mr. Peart

Whenever the question of the sheepmeat régime is debated, I shall, of course, consult all the interests concerned. The House knows that I frequently attend meetings of the Scrutiny Committee and I am quite rightly subjected to questions from colleagues, who undertake the task in a constructive manner. I do not think the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells) need worry too much about the matter.