§ 1. Mr. David Hanson (Delyn)If he will make a statement on discussions relating to agriculture during the recent visit to Wales of the President of the European Union Commission. [45897]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Ron Davies)I discussed a number of issues with President Santer on the occasion of his visit to Wales on 29 May, particularly the lifting of the ban on the export of beef. The Commission's proposal for a UK date-based export scheme is a key step towards lifting the export ban throughout the UK. The Government are working hard for an effective scheme which allows exports to resume.
§ Mr. HansonMy right hon. Friend will be aware that, at its last meeting, the Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Commission yet again deferred—until July—a decision on the date-based export scheme. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that the Government will do all that they can, from the Welsh Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to ensure that the Commission reaches a decision early so that Welsh beef can be exported again, and so that the success of Welsh farmers can be improved?
§ Mr. DaviesI can most certainly give my hon. Friend that assurance. I agree with his comments about the desirability of raising the export ban. He will be interested to know that the matter comes back to the Standing Veterinary Committee on 7 July. Between now and then, the British Government will seek to maximise co-operation with our European colleagues so that we are successful on that date.
Seeing the hon. Member for Woodside—
§ Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring)Woodspring, please.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesSeeing the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on the Opposition Front Bench reminds me that, during his days as a Foreign Office Minister, he displayed a poster saying "Stuff the EU". I should like the House to contrast the mindless confrontation of the previous Government, which got us nowhere, with this Government's positive attitude. We are actively seeking co-operation which, after many years of chaos, at last brings the hope of some lifting of the dreadful curse on the British farming industry.
§ Mr. Richard Livsey (Brecon and Radnorshire)I am interested in what the Secretary of State said about the lifting of the beef ban, and I hope that that will happen this calendar year. Did the right hon. Gentleman also discuss the retirement scheme, and whether it was possible to change the rules so that Welsh family farms 1032 do not have to be amalgamated in order to qualify, and to give young farmers a chance to get on to the bottom rung of the farming ladder?
§ Mr. DaviesAs the hon. Gentleman knows, I was in his constituency last Friday, when I discussed with young farmers, from his constituency and throughout Wales, the particular problems of the European regulation as it relates to the restructuring that we currently want. He will know that, at the moment, there has to be some amalgamation of farms under that regulation, which will result in the loss of farming opportunities. That is a matter of concern which the Government will look at closely as we seek to restructure the industry so that it can more effectively meet the challenges of the future.
§ Mr. Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)When the President of the Commission visited my right hon. Friend's constituency and mine, did he fully appreciate the needs and wishes of our communities—particularly the fact that their gross domestic product per capita is 62 per cent. of the European average? Did we manage to get across the powerful message that we deserve objective 1 status, and did the President approve that idea?
§ Mr. DaviesI can certainly confirm that the President travelled with me through my hon. Friend's constituency, and it is fair to say that he was very. impressed with the case that was made. My hon. Friend's constituency has reservoirs of poverty and unemployment as bad as those anywhere in the United Kingdom. The British Government's case has been submitted to Eurostat by the British Government's own statistical service. During my discussions with the President, I certainly impressed on him the need for maximum support for the case that we have submitted on granting Wales objective 1 status. I think he fully accepts the justice of our case, which was based on low GDP levels throughout the west of Wales and the valleys.
§ Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)It is clear that some of our European politicians are as out of touch as the Government with the plight of farmers. It is quite unbelievable that Members of the European Parliament are contemplating doubling their salaries at a time when farmers' incomes have been halved. Today—after his discussions with the President of the European Commission—what fresh measures can the Secretary of State announce to help the farmers and other people who, just a few days ago, marched through Cardiff in protest at the fact that their plight is falling on deaf ears among the Government? Does he realise that there will be fresh job losses throughout the rural economy if there is no fresh help for our farmers?
§ Mr. DaviesThe message that farmers gave me on Sunday was not about their plight falling on deaf ears. I invited them into the Welsh Office, where I had a very courteous, civilised and helpful discussion with them. They of course told me about the difficulties that agriculture faces, but also stressed that a backlog of difficulties has developed in the red meat industry over the past 10 years—during which the industry has declined because of the previous Government's failure to establish a proper marketing policy for Welsh products, 1033 and because of the problems with BSE, which were a direct consequence of that Government's inactivity. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson), on 7 July, the Standing Veterinary Committee will again consider the export ban. I hope that the Opposition will now join the Government in trying to put right that wrong, which has existed for a very long time.