HC Deb 06 February 1992 vol 203 cc441-2
4. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times English lamb has been hijacked in France: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

Since June 1990, there have been 16 such incidents in France involving British lamb exports.

Mr. Evans

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I congratulate him on his robust stance in defence of British farmers, particularly those producing lamb, in stark contrast to the attitude of Labour Members, who wobble on everything. Indeed, had they been defending British farmers, particularly, those producing lamb, they would have achieved only a load of jelly—and red at that.

Mr. Gummer

My hon. Friend has a characteristically robust way of demanding our continued support for British lamb producers. I am sure that he was as pleased as I was that the Parliamentary Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), spent some time last week promoting British lamb in the middle of France. I hope that, as a result, the French will eat a great deal more of our lamb, which is the best in the world.

Mr. John P. Smith

I remind the Minister that we also have some excellent Welsh lamb, much of which comes from my constituency in the Vale of Glamorgan. Is he aware that had the Government encouraged investment in slaughtering facilities, we would not be exporting the jobs that are now being lost?

Mr. Gummer

This is one issue on which the hon. Gentleman might have commenced his supplementary question by saying that most people in Wales are pleased with the way in which the Government have fought for the British lamb industry as a whole and that Welsh consignments have been fought for, too. The hon. Gentleman has been singularly silent in the battle.

Mr. Conway

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that we in Britain import more agricultural produce from France than we export to France? Does he agree that it is good that the British farming community is not as violent as appears to be the case on the continent? Does he further agree that that speaks volumes for the decency of the British farming community, which does not react in kind to French imports?

Mr. Gummer

I congratulate the British farming industry on keeping its temper at times when it could easily have boiled over and reciprocated. That has brought a great deal of success, because the French Government are now taking the tough measures that we have been pressing on them for 10 years. That major success is a result of the British farming industry's behaviour.