HL Deb 10 June 1964 vol 258 cc884-6

2.55 p.m.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government to state, for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available, the exports of live cattle and of beef from the United Kingdom and the percentage increase or decrease of such exports, compared with the year 1960.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)

My Lords, in the period from May, 1963, to April, 1964, nearly 214,000 head of cattle were exported from the United Kingdom, compared with nearly 58,000 in 1960. This represents an increase of about 270 per cent. of live cattle on the 1960 figure. As to carcase meat, I regret that separate figures for exports of beef and veal did not become available until 1963.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in the first four months of this year exports of meat in various forms to Europe were four times that for the similar period last year, and in the case of France ten times as much? Can he say why his right honourable friend, in the face of a certain impending world shortage of beef, chose to occupy his time in trying to agree import controls instead of trying to ensure an increase in supplies? And can he justify the present free market in exports of British cattle and beef against the background of the subsidies which are being paid, directly and indirectly, and the high and increasing prices in the shops?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I think the short answer—it could be a very long answer indeed—to both questions is one that the Government have given before; that is to say, that we regard this as a short-term shortage of meat. It is a world shortage, as the noble Lord has pointed out, but it has short-term causes, and to take long term measures would be entirely against the interests of this country as an exporting nation. The noble Lord asked me, by implication, whether I did not consider that it would be right to prevent exports. He asked me, in fact, if we could justify the continuation of exports, and I would say "Yes". We are an exporting country and any suggestion, at this stage at any rate, that we should ban exports would be wrong.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I am most grateful for that very short answer. But is the noble Lord aware that both France and Belgium have halved the import duties against British meat, and that it is obvious, therefore, that they are taking short-term measures to improve their position at our expense and at the expense of the British consumer? That being so, is it not advisable for us even to consider measures of that kind?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, the noble Lord is entirely mistaken in thinking that it is at our expense. In what way is it at our expense? The fact is that there is a world meat shortage—I understood the noble Lord to acknowledge that fact. Therefore, if, by our action, our meat is prevented from going to the Continent those countries will draw their supplies from other parts, other meat-producing countries. This indeed would be at our expense, and that is why I said that in present circumstances we are unwilling to take such action.