§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the 1984–85 European Economic Community agricultural price proposals.
§ Mr. JoplingI expect to receive numerous representations on the 1984–85 price proposals, details of which have only recently been received in London.
§ Mr. StrangDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that fundamental to the financial crisis and the other problems 390 of the CAP is the high price of cereals, which forces up food prices and sharply increases the cost of products such as poultry and pigmeat? Will he assure the House that the Government will stand firm on the proposal to freeze cereal prices?
§ Mr. JoplingThe Commission's proposals do not match up to the scale of the problem in view of mounting surpluses and the imbalance between the grain and livestock sectors. There is a need to narrow the gap between Community and United States prices and to improve the balance between the quantity of cereals and the livestock sector.
§ Mr. BudgenDoes my right hon. Friend mean by that that there will be a freeze on cereal prices, or not?
§ Mr. JoplingWe have said, and I intend to say at the Council next week, that it would have been better if there had been not a freeze but a cut in the price of cereals.
§ Mr. Geraint HowellsWill the Minister tell us how often the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland, both of whom are responsible for agriculture in those countries, accompany him to discuss price proposals in Brussels?
§ Mr. JoplingI am sure that my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland would be enormously welcome if they chose to come to the meetings. I can only think that they believe that the negotiations are in good hands.
§ Mr. Colin ShepherdWill my right hon. Friend resist proposals to revalue the green currencies to reduce the positive monetary compensatory amounts, which currently favour United Kingdom producers, because to do so would penalise United Kingdom producers while not penalising Continental producers? Surely there can be no fairness in that.
§ Mr. JoplingI shall make my stance clear in the Council on Monday. I find the Commission's proposals on this matter unacceptable.
§ Mr. CorbettWill the Minister assure us that when he repeats what he said at the beginning of this exchange at the Council on Monday he will do so in plain English? Will he also assure the House in plain English that he will not put his name to any proposals which increase the cost of unwanted surpluses?
§ Mr. JoplingThe Government's approach in these matters is to try to eliminate circumstances in which structural surpluses seem to appear in ever greater quantities.