§ 15. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his intention to apply for a derogation from the European Community for continued cheese imports to the United Kingdom from New Zealand after 31st December 1977.
§ Mr. BishopThe declaration by EEC Heads of Governments on 11th March 1975 established the framework for consideration of the question of imports of New Zealand cheese for the period after 1977, and I expect that this matter will now be considered by the Community in the autumn.
§ Mr. WintertonDoes the Minister agree that the delay in finalising this matter is not only causing grave uncertainty to the British dairy industry, which has invested more than £50 million in cheese manufacturing plants, but must put our very good friends in New Zealand in a state of uncertainty? Will he please give an assurance this afternoon that the question of whether we are to allow further cheese imports from New Zealand into this country will be finalised at a very early date—and I mean weeks, not months?
§ Mr. BishopWe recognise the urgent need to deal with this matter, as indeed with other aspects concerned with the Community as a whole, but I stress that we should keep the matter in perspective. The New Zealand quota this year is only 15,240 tonnes. Last year we imported 70,000 tonnes of Cheddar-type cheese from other member States. Therefore, there is more cheese coming in from 926 the Community than from New Zealand. But, of course, New Zealand has a special place in this matter, following the Dublin Heads of Government agreement of a few years ago.
§ Mr. MolloyDoes my right hon. Friend agree that, although there is a great deal of substance in the complaints of Opposition Members regarding our membership of the EEC generally, many of the grunts and other farmyard noises that we have heard this afternoon are part of the frustration and anguish they are suffering because they rushed into membership so freely and quickly, without thinking?
§ Mr. BishopI recognise my hon. Friend's usual lucidity in these matters. My right hon. Friend is going to Australia and New Zealand during the recess. I have no doubt that he will bear in mind some of the points made and will have regard to the position of New Zealand. I think there is anxiety about our need to produce more cheese in this country. This can easily come about, in view of the substantial quantities that we import from the Community.
§ Mr. MartenDoes the Minister agree that the common agricultural policy, with all its protection, is damaging our agricultural trade with New Zealand and Australia? Will he further agree that the effect of this is to harm the lives of people in the Commonwealth, in Australia and New Zealand, which is something we do not want to do?
§ Mr. BishopI note the hon. Member's point. He will know of the loyal way the British Government have taken into account the special position of Australia and New Zealand. We shall continue to press upon the Community the special place that they have in our relationship and as potential suppliers of our needs.
§ Mr. SpearingSince it is now an established fact that the retail price of butter from New Zealand would be only 51 per cent. of the normal EEC price if it were allowed free price range, will my right hon. Friend tell us the equivalent percentage for cheese?
§ Mr. BishopI shall write to my hon. Friend about that. The price that New Zealand gets for her products—butter, cheese or any other product—must be 927 comparable with the rest of the price levels within the Community.