HC Deb 21 April 1983 vol 41 cc409-10
15. Mr. Colin Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that United Kingdom growers of wheat are securing equivalent advantage of intervention arrangements to those being utilised by other countries of the European Community.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The requirements for the acceptance of wheat into intervention are laid down in European Community regulations, which are applicable in all member states, and there is only very limited scope for national variations.

Mr. Shepherd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable anxiety within the British poultry industry that British-grown feed wheat is being exported to the Community to replace French feed wheat that has been placed in intervention at a higher price due to a differential standard of application of the test between hard and soft wheat? Can my right hon. Friend assure the poultry industry that there are adequate stocks of British-grown feed wheat for our poultry industry for the rest of this season, and that poultry farmers will not be financially disadvantaged by the curious anomaly that has arisen because of the different interpretation of standards?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing attention to the problems in relation to cereals, not only for pig producers, but for poultry producers, who are equally affected by the serious position. My hon. Friend is right to say that there appears to be a discrepancy in some of the results of the tests. We have discussed the matter with the Commission, as has the trade, but so far an appropriate test that could be introduced throughout the Community on an equal basis has not been identified. I assure my hon. Friend that I shall continue to pursue the matter, because I am not satisfied with the present position.

Mr. Maclennan

Why are the tests applied in Britain more strict than those applied in other countries of the Community?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

If the hon. Gentleman has evidence that they are stricter, I should be grateful if he would show it to me. From my inquiries I have found that, although there appear to be some discrepancies in the results, the standard of the test is not always the reason.