§ 3. Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department exercises any control over exports of grain which form part of the barter deals.
§ Mr. ChannonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. LeighIs my right hon. Friend aware that in my constituency I have 500 of the most efficient and productive cereal farmers in the world? What—
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleHeavily subsidised.
§ Mr. LeighMy hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) has an advantage in that he is a farmer representing an urban constituency. What is the point of forcing more and more grain into intervention? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that more export credits and restitutions are granted so that we may export grain to the Third world and even to Soviet Russia?
§ Mr. ChannonI have a suspicion that most of my hon. Friend's question is for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to answer. However, my hon. Friend asked about export credits, and on 3 December we announced that two-year cover is available for grain sales to markets for which extended medium-term coverage is available. Thus, I think that I have gone some way towards meeting my hon. Friend's point.