HC Deb 02 July 1987 vol 118 cc617-8
8. Mr. Wallace

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Community about the structure of the proposed new European Community beef regime, due in 1987.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The decisions on the reform of the beef regime were made during the United Kingdom presidency last December and came into effect in April. Our market prices have risen since then, while our producers benefit from the variable premium and suckler cow premium at increased rates.

Mr. Wallace

Will the Minister accept that, notwith-standing the devaluation of the green pound and developments in the beef sector this week, the beef producers of this country still feel hard pressed and are still subject to unfair competition, particularly from the Irish Republic? Will he confirm that this most recent devaluation gives further scope for increases in the hill livestock compensatory allowances and in the suckler cow premium? If those increases were made would that not solve some of the problems to which the Minister referred and considerably benefit beef producers in my constituency and in other less-favoured areas?

Mr. Thompson

The less-favoured areas are always on our minds primarily because I live in one. The suckler cow premium has increased by £8.60 and we shall, of course, examine that again. The variable premium returns about £51, which cannot be bad and the Irishman, who was collecting £63.70 on a side of beef is now collecting £22.60, and I am sure that he will not be pleased about that.

Mr. Key

I think that my hon. Friend has particular expertise on the subject of the European meat trade. Will he examine urgently the problems facing a large number of slaughterhouses, which appear to be the subject of a positively Japanese-style campaign from Brussels to prevent the abattoirs from exporting meat to the European Community? That is having a consequential effect on the butchers in our high streets.

Mr. Thompson

I do not think that butchers in our high streets and export slaughterhouses are all that closely connected. However, I would not countenance any meat being exported from this country that had not been handled in the most hygienic of premises. The same inspectors tour the whole of Europe and America to inspect slaughterhouses. There is room for improvement in many of our slaughterhouses, although a large proportion of them are of the very highest quality.

Mr. Rogers

For the past half hour we have heard about nothing but surpluses in beef, dairy and other agricultural produce and the Government's lack of ability to reform the common agricultural policy. May I suggest that one way of solving the problem would be for the Government to shut down some of the farms, just as they have shut down the pits and the factories?

Mr. Thompson

We heard my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Sir R. Body) say earlier that when the CAP started there were 22 million farmers and now there are 7 million. That is a significant reduction.