HC Deb 08 December 1986 vol 107 c15
13. Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on current farm incomes in Wales.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)

Total farming income in Wales this year is expected to rise substantially from last year's level, but to remain below the level of 1984.

Mr. Howells

I am sure that the Secretary of State is well aware that he has full responsibility for Welsh agriculture. Will he tell the House and the Welsh nation why he is not in Brussels today defending the rights of the Welsh farming community?

Mr. Edwards

I am quite confident that the agricultural interests of this country, and they include those of Wales, are best defended by having single United Kingdom representation of agricultural interests in Europe. There are already, goodness knows, enough difficulties in arriving at sensible solutions to the problems of CAP when 12 countries are negotiating, without adding to the cacophony of voices sounding off in Brussels.