National Farmers Union (Hansard, 17 January 1980)

§ 8. Mr. Lennox-Boyd
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when next he will meet the president of the National Farmers Union.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
I meet the president of the National Farmers Union frequently but have no specific plans at present for a further meeting.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
As we suffer from a certain weakness in the marketing of our agricultural and horticultural products, and as my right hon. Friend announced last July that he was inviting certain prominent individuals to consider this problem, will he give some indication of the discussions that he has had with the president of the NFU, and those that he intends to have, in order to see what more the NFU can do to help the situation?

§ Mr. Walker
I am pleased to say that the NFU has announced that it is setting up, and has now set up, a new marketing division. It will concentrate heavily upon that aspect of British agriculture. We have also announced changes in the council for agricultural and horticultural co-operation that will encourage marketing co-operatives to a greater degree. A whole range of discussions are now taking place that I hope will improve our marketing effort.
The recent green pound devaluation means that next week the MCAs that have operated so heavily against us in the past will be down to 1.2 per cent. However, if sterling remains at its present level they will disappear altogether the following week.

§ Mr. Spearing
When the Minister next sees Mr. Butler, will he tell him that in order to maintain milk deliveries a good price is needed, not only for the farmer, but also for the distributor? Will he also correct his earlier statement and will he tell Mr. Butler that a second case is now in process at the European Court? If it goes against us, the Minister and milk deliveries will be in severe difficulties.

§ Mr. Walker
In fairness to Mr. Butler, neither he nor the NFU has ever disputed the necessity for the dairy industry to maintain margins in order to continue a door-to-door service. The NFU is well aware that the distribution of milk depends upon the maintenance of that service. The hon. Gentleman seems to show a certain enthusiasm for the prospects of the court case, but the only case that has taken place on the same question was summed up very clearly by the Advocate General in favour of the British position. I see no reason for change in the current case.

§ Mr. Charles Morrison
I do not wish to suggest that the Minister should impose his own view on the NFU or on the Country Landowners Association, but will he impress upon the president of the NFU that, unless he is prepared to reach agreement with the CLA about the future of inherited tenancies, there will be no hope of retaining the existing number of farms for let, let alone achieving an increase?

§ Mr. Walker
Yes, but I shall always also impress upon the president of the CLA the importance of coming to an agreement with the NFU.

§ Mr. Foulkes
When the Minister next meets the president of the NFU, will he explain to him that it is no longer possible to buy a British manufactured combine harvester because of the closure of Massey Ferguson at Kilmarnock? Will he further explain to the president, as well as to the House, what he and the Secretary of State for Industry are doing to encourage the manufacture of agricultural implements in Britain?

§ Mr. Walker
I agree that the farm machinery industry is important in Britain and I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry is giving attention to that problem now.