§ 1. Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon)What representations he has received from the New Zealand Government on matters relating to trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. [61419]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett)There have been no formal recent representations from the New Zealand Government on trade-related matters, but the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments regularly co-operate on various matters, including trade.
§ Mr. WigleyI am grateful for that answer and glad to understand that the New Zealand Government have not become over-enthusiastic about the difficulties with trade in sheep that arise from our domestic problems in the sheep sector. Will the Minister keep the New Zealand Government abreast of developments in that sector, so that they understand the difficulties under which farmers 656 have been labouring in the United Kingdom? Hopefully, within a year or so, we may be able to withstand the full rigours of trade once again.
§ Mr. FatchettI am happy to give the right hon. Gentleman that commitment. We continue to discuss a range of trading issues with the New Zealand Government, including the trade in lamb, and we will certainly take up the points to which he referred.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)Will the Minister confirm that there is no prospect of this country trading its successful first-past-the-post electoral system for the disastrous proportional representation system, which has done so much to undermine parliamentary democracy in New Zealand?
§ Mr. FatchettI congratulate the hon. Gentleman on a very wise question. From my own perspective, I would say that we had a great deal to learn from New Zealand on that issue.