§ 7. Mr. Shersbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the effect on the British food and drink industries of the likely accession of Greece, Portugal and Spain to membership of the European Community ; what guidance he has given to the industries ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopMy Department is keeping under consideration the implications of enlargement for the food and drink industries. We shall maintain contact with representative organisations as the negotiations with Greece, Portugal and Spain progress.
§ Mr. ShersbyWhat assurance can the right hon. Gentleman give that imports of materials required by the United Kingdom food and drink industries from other countries with Mediterranean climates do not have new barriers raised against them when Spain, Portugal and Greece join the Community? I am thinking especially of vegetables and fruit.
§ Mr. BishopThe hon. Gentleman will be aware of some of the advantages, such as the increase by about 20 per cent. of the EEC market and availability to our products. As for exports and imports, there will be a review of the levies and tariffs that may affect prices. Depending upon the commodities concerned, we think that on the whole enlargement should be advantageous to us.
§ Mr. TorneyHas my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food given consideration to surpluses? I imagine that when Greece, Portugal and Spain join the Community we shall as in France, have huge surpluses. Has any consideration been given to the creation of surpluses following enlargement? Will he take 894 steps to endeavour to ensure that we shall no longer be subsidising the sale of surpluses at give-away prices to third countries while the British taxpayer pays for those sales by taxation and the housewife pays in high prices in the shops? Will he take some action to eradicate surpluses if and when Spain, Greece and Portugal become members of the Community?
§ Mr. BishopAs my hon. Friend knows, negotiations are under way in respect of Greece, Spain and Portugal. We are fighting to get rid of surpluses by maintaining reasonable price levels. It is a factor that we shall include in our review of levies and tariffs.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWill the right hon. Gentleman consider his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) about fruit products grown outside the Community? What justification can there be for the substantial taxes that we are now having to pay upon canned mandarines and pineapples when those products are not grown within the Community? What representations are being made to ensure that there is a review of that taxation?
§ Mr. BishopOn imports from non-EEC Mediterranean countries, the existing CCT preferential treatment will continue. There is bound to be some change in favour of the new members. As for United Kingdom imports from the new member States, the United Kingdom imports substantial quantities of fresh and processed fruit, vegetables and wines. Abolition of the levies imposed under the reference price system should lead to improved availability.
§ Mr. HefferIs it not clear that in the process of the negotiations for the entry of Greece, Spain and Portugal into the Common Market the whole issue of the CAP must be discussed and that there should be an understanding that we shall happily accept the three countries into a looser organisation on the condition that there is a complete and fundamental change in the CAP at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. BishopMy hon. Friend is correct. We are fighting to improve CAP policy for the present nine countries. That is an urgent improvement if we are to 895 have the accession of Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal by 1983.