Sheepmeat

HC Deb 05 November 1979 vol 973 cc6-8

4. Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure access for Welsh sheepmeat into the French market.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

At the Council of Ministers in September, I stressed the importance of the sheep industry to Wales and the strong feelings among sheep farmers about France's discrimination against United Kingdom sheepmeat exports. The House will be aware of the steps we have taken to impress on Commissioner Gundelach and the French Government that the European Court's judgment must be complied with and United Kingdom sheepmeat admitted immediately into the French market without restriction. I hope that the French Government will comply without further delay and avoid the need for more legal action.

Mr. Hooson

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Wales alone rears one-sixth of the Community's sheep? Will he ensure that the British Government will block any further Community price settlement until there is compliance by the French Government with the European Court's ruling?

Mr. Edwards

I can assure my hon. Friend that I emphasised at the Council of Ministers meeting the great importance to the Welsh agricultural community of the sheepmeat sector. I can also assure him that we shall not be pressed into a financial settlement on sheepmeat which will be selective and detrimental to the interests of United Kingdom farmers. I am sure that he will agree that it would be wrong for Britain to breach the law of the Community.

Mr. Geraint Howells

Is the Secretary of State aware that not all sheep producers in Wales are in favour of a sheepmeat regime, but rather seek access to the French market? If that is so, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the sheep producers of Wales that he will not trade-in or abolish the guaranteed deficiency payment that has served Britain so well during the past 20 years?

Mr. Edwards

There is no question of trading-in items. However, if a sheepmeat regime was agreed we would have to consider the future of the guarantee. We have made it clear that we do not think that the proper road to take is one of Community-financed intervention arrangements. We recognise that there should be some arrangement to cushion French farmers against any immediate change or the violent results of any such change. I am glad that I have the support of Welsh farmers and all interests in rural Wales in the fight that we are offering. I only wish that we had the support of all Opposition Members, including the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans), who is encouraging the French Government to break the law by signing early-day motion No. 161.

Mr. Best

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is disgraceful that certain Opposition Members have signed early-day motion No. 161, which encourages and supports the French Government in breaking the law? Will he ask Opposition Members in Wales to dissociate themselves from that early-day motion?

Mr. Edwards

The motion demonstrates the contempt that Opposition Members have for the interests of the rural community, and for international legal obligations.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that we are contributing over £1,000 million to support the common agricultural policy? That is what the Government should deal with. The difficulty that we face in sending sheep to France is typical of the farce of the whole agriculture system. We should return to guaranteed prices for the farmer and deficiency payments. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that a return to that policy would give the housewife a far better deal?

Mr. Edwards

That does not excuse the hon. Gentleman from urging the French to break the law. If there were some form of Community regime, Britain would stand to benefit because we have more sheep than any other member State.