HC Deb 21 March 1972 vol 833 cc285-7W
29. Mr. Madel

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will define horticultural producer organisations, and indicate the size and scope of these bodies in European Economic Community countries.

Mr. Prior

I would refer my hon. Friend to the definition in Article 1 of Regulation 159/66/E.E.C. Producer organisations so defined vary greatly in size and the percentage of domestic production they market varies from over 90 per cent. in the Netherlands to an estimated 20 per cent. in Italy.

34. Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that health regulations are used as a means of obstructing trade in horticultural produce within the European Economic Community countries, if he will seek to raise this matter with the Community.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not unusual for those engaged in international trade to be critical of import controls on the grounds of plant health. My Department is always ready to take up with the authorities concerned specific cases where,prima facie, there is improper use of such controls.

40. Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to phase out the bacon stabiliser subsidy during the transitional period of British entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Prior

The detailed arrangements for pigmeat, including bacon, to apply during the transitional period of entry into the E.E.C. are among the matters which we shall be discussing with the European Commission and our prospective Community partners during the course of this year.

43. Mr. John Wells

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following his discussions with the European Economic Community Commission, he is satisfied that the British hop-growing industry will be permitted to continue growing seeded hops under the European Economic Community regulations, and that these regulations will neither spoil the traditional quality of British beer nor pose unreasonable economic difficulties for British hop growers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

A draft E.E.C. regulation which might affect the marketing of seeded hops is under consideration by the Community, and we have their specific assurance that we shall be fully consulted about its application to the United Kingdom before a decision is reached. We shall of course take our own brewers and hop-growers into consultation.

Mr. Strang

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion she has had with representatives of the Common Market regarding their latest proposals for increases in farm prices; and when, and at what level, the discussions took place.

Mr. Prior

Senior officials from my Department explained our views on these proposals to the Commission on 3rd March and I have discussed the subject informally with individual Ministers on various occasions, most recently in Paris on 9th March.

Mr. Strang

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the proposed increases in common agricultural prices in the European Economic Community.

Mr. Prior

The Government believe that it is in our interests—and indeed those of the enlarged Community—to restrain increases in the common agricultural prices and therefore to get a better balance between the needs of the consumer and of the farmer. In so far as there are to be increases, we would prefer them on livestock rather than cereals.