§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is proposed to review the present regulations prohibiting the importation from France of Charollais cows and heifers.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)My Lords, the control of imports of livestock is necessary, as I am sure the noble Lord will agree, in the interests of animal health, and my right honourable friend sees no justification for varying it in present circumstances.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord not aware that the imports which have already taken place of Charollais cows and heifers under Ministry auspices have been carried out in full accordance with the quarantine regulations, and, therefore, that there is no reason on that score why females should not be allowed to come in? At the same time, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that there is a demand from Canada and the United States for purebred Charollais cattle form this country, if we can produce them, and that by the refusal to allow the importation of Charollais cows and heifers we are, in fact, being denied the opportunity of quite a valuable addition to our dollar exports from the farming industry?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, the noble Lord is, of course, aware that the purpose of the trials now taking place is not to establish the breed in this country. We are awaiting the results of these trials, but they will not be available yet. In the light of the results we shall report to Parliament and the country. I think it is too early to anticipate any decisions which may come as a result of the trials.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that while we are awaiting the results of these trials we are possibly losing the possibility of building up a reputation and an export 80 to other countries? At the same time, would he not agree that it is somewhat contrary to the philosophy expressed, as I understand it, by his own Party, that private enterprise should be allowed the freedom to burn its own fingers, if it so wishes, without interference from either bureaucracy or red tape to prevent it from so doing?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, the noble Lord's Question is in the context of animal health, and I have answered him in the context of animal health. We shall await the results of these trials to see what then can be brought to bear as an argument. But until then, as I said earlier, my right honourable friend sees no reason for varying the regulations as they stand.
EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there has yet been any refusal by countries who have always imported a prime pedigree stock from us because there are now under trial in this country animals from a country which has no effective answer to foot-and-mouth disease?
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, would the noble Lord inform me whether France restricts in any way the importation of our own pure-bred or cross-bred heifers and cows?
LORD ST. OSNATALDMy Lords, I think not, although, of course, I am not responsible for such regulations. The point I think the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition was making was that this country benefits considerably from our reputation as a disease-free country, and it is for that reason that we are very careful what we import in the form of livestock from other countries.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, could we have an assurance that this matter will be reviewed, particularly because it is causing considerable concern among farmers that progress is being retarded?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, what I have already said to the noble Lord, Lord Walston, stands: we are awaiting the results of the trials. I do not think I can say to-day when we shall be able to judge from the results what future policy should be.