§ 2.37 p m.
§ Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOODMy 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 what date they expect the new agricultural price guarantee for sheep to operate; and what will be the position of any subsidy where lamb carcasses are for export.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords, the community sheepmeat régime, which was agreed by the Council of Agricultural Ministers, is expected to come into force when the voluntary agreements have been concluded with third country suppliers of sheepmeat. The proposed régime allows a member state to operate a variable premium system as an alternative to intervention. Where this system applies, an amount equivalent to the variable premium will be recovered on exports.
§ Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOODMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much for that Answer. May I ask the Government whether they realise that these delays, hesitations, and failures to make decisions cause particular difficulties in the world of agriculture, since the growth of animals is a matter that does not stand still? If one does not make a decision when the animal is a lamb, it very soon becomes a young hogg or ewe and the period for sale is completely ruined. If they possibly can, I urge the Government to ensure that decisions are taken under the EEC agricultural policy. It is really vital that a decision be taken in this matter, and I ask the Government to bear this in mind.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords, I fully recognise the very practical problems to which the noble Baroness refers—she has such a close personal association with the producers' industry—but I cannot give a firm date for the implementation of the régime. All parties to the voluntary restraint agreement negotiations recognise the need to avoid delay.
§ Lord HENLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the slaughtering industry is very worried that, if there is a delay between the date of the beginning of the new price guarantee scheme and its actual implementation, it might cause severe disruption to the amount of lamb being sent for slaughter?
§ Lord SANDYSYes, my Lords; but I would draw the attention of my noble friend to the Statement and press release issued on 30th May by my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture. He referred to the effect on third countries, especially New Zealand. He said:
The whole régime will come into effect only if, and when, New Zealand agrees on the volume of her imports into the Community in exchange for tariff reduction".
§ Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOODMy Lords, if that is the position, can the noble Lord say what will happen if New Zealand does not agree?—because the entire sheep industry of England, Scotland and Wales would therefore be in jeopardy.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords, that is a hypothetical question, and I regret that I cannot answer it.