§ 2.40 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 progress is being made in negotiations with our European partners to offset the high fuel costs borne by the horticultural industry.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Ferrers)My Lords, there has been a satisfactory outcome to my right honourable friend's continued pressure over the last two years in the Council of Agriculture Ministers to restore fair competition to the glasshouse sector. At yesterday's council, the European Community Commission reported their agreement with the Dutch Government to eliminate the Dutch growers' preferential gas tariff by 1st April 1983 by alignment with the industrial tariff on an oil equivalent basis.
§ Baroness Elliot of HarwoodMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend Lord Fellers very much indeed for what appears to be a very successful outcome to what was a very difficult thing for the glasshouse industry in this country. I congratulate and thank my noble friend warmly for having brought this about.