§ 13. Mr. Knoxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to have discussions with the European Community Council of Ministers about the operation of milk quotas.
§ Mr. GummerThis item is not at present specifically on the agenda of any Council meeting, but in its discussion of price fixing this week the Council has been considering several issues relating to the quota system.
§ Mr. KnoxIs my right hon. Friend aware of the deep resentment that is felt by many British dairy farmers that New Zealand imports are included in Britain's national quotas? How can he justify that, 14 years after we joined the Community?
§ Mr. GummerI am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish to mislead the House. In the fixing of the quotas between the countries of the Common Market, the fact that New Zealand had entry into our market was excluded from the arrangements and Britain received a smaller cut than about 40 per cent. of European producers, although we received a larger cut than another 40 per cent. However, New Zealand did not affect that at all.