"Back to Basics" (Hansard, 24 February 1994)

§ 8. Mr. Grocott
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further contributions her Department plans to make to the "back to basics" policy.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 21 January, Official Report, column 849.

§ Mr. Grocott
Is the Minister aware that that is a pretty thin answer to a question about a policy which the Prime Minister tells us is to permeate the work of all Departments? I can give that answer only one mark for technical merit. Would it not be far better if the Minister came clean with the House and admitted that she has not a clue what relevance the "back to basics" policy has for her Department because, like everyone else in the country, she has not a clue what "back to basics" means? Is it not worth saying, for once, that that was a meaningless answer to a meaningless question about a meaningless policy?

§ Mrs. Shephard
I understand that the hon. Gentleman recently regretted that there was not much farming interest in his constituency. However, I should have thought that even he should know that farming and the production of good food are about as basic as one can get. If he has difficulty with the concept, I know of quite a few farmers who would like to put him right.

§ Mr. Gallie
Does my right hon. Friend agree that getting back to basics in the food market will mean that food can compete on equal terms in whatever market, especially in Europe? Does she also agree that the United Kingdom salmon farming industry is now under threat because of dumping from Norway, and can she advise what steps can be taken?

§ Mrs. Shephard
I must say that I rather agree with my hon. Friend. He will, of course, welcome the discussion that the Minister of State, Scottish Office is having with the Norwegian Fisheries Minister and he will also wish to support that Minister's argument that the key to the long-term solution lies through co-operation and agreement between producers. I am sure that he will strongly urge the Scottish salmon producers to meet their Norwegian counterparts as soon as possible to get the process of dealing with the industry's problems under way.

§ Dr. Strang
Is the Minister aware that there is nothing more basic than the living standards of farm workers and their families? Now that the consultation exercise has demonstrated such overwhelming support for the Agricultural wages board, and the farmers as well as the farm workers have come out in support of it, is it not clear than any move to abolish or weaken the board could be motivated only by political dogma? When will the Minister remove that threat from farm workers and their families?

§ Mrs. Shephard
We have had many representations about the future of the Agricultural wages board, the majority of which have been favour of its retention. During last month's agriculture questions, I said that I would meet representatives of the Transport and General Workers Union, and I have now done that. I am considering the matter and I hope to make an announcement before Easter.