HC Deb 09 February 1983 vol 36 c998
70. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next be attending a meeting of the Council of Ministers; what subjects will be discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

Because of other commitments my right hon. Friend will not be attending the next Foreign Affairs Council scheduled for 21 and 22 February, so I shall go in his place. A written statement of forthcoming business of the Council of Ministers, which included details of the provisional agenda for the February Foreign Affairs Council, was published in the Official Report on 31 January.

Mr. Hughes

Should not the right hon. Gentleman be delivering a clear repudiation of the diktat from the Common Market that tries to force down the throats of the British people so-called imported milk in substitution of our own most excellent product, which has been so superbly delivered in all weathers for so many years?

Mr. Hurd

I gather that the product to which the hon. Gentleman refers has 1 per cent. of the market. No one is compelling the hon. Gentleman or anyone else to drink the nasty stuff.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Is it not the case that at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council the one issue that will not be discussed is any diminution of the powers of the directly elected European Parliament, which has been so much criticised in earlier exchanges? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that if the Government are genuinely interested in a positive policy towards the Community this will mean an increase in the budget and also an increase in the direct power of the European Parliament?

Mr. Hurd

I do not think that we shall be discussing either a diminution or an increase in the powers of the body.

Mr. Dykes

Does my right hon. Friend feel that there is any prospect of the beginning of the development of a common energy policy?

Mr. Hurd

My hon. Friend knows that a start has been made on that matter. He also knows about the proposals that my right hon. Friend and others have made on behalf of this country to develop such a policy. It could certainly be a useful part of the Community's general policies.

Mr. Stoddart

In relation to the import of UHT milk, is it not iniquitous that we should be told by an alien body what we should and should not do about imports? Is it not a disgrace that at the behest of such a body Ministers propose to introduce legislation in this Parliament to alter the law in accordance with the ruling of the European Court of Justice?

Mr. Hurd

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is to make a statement on his meetings yesterday. It may be that he will refer to that point.