§ 16. Mr. John E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the United Kingdom will be able to continue to extract a premium from the liquid milk market under the European Economic Community marketing arrangements.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart:The EEC's regulations do not limit the premium on milk for liquid consumption. Since competing imports would incur transport costs, a substantial premium should still be obtainable in full common market conditions.
§ 24. Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to inform United Kingdom egg producers of the necessity for preparing for the change over to European Economic Community quality standards and weight grades.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartAn explanatory booklet is available free of charge and has been widely distributed among producers and the trade. Arrangements are in operation for maintaining close touch between my Department and representatives of producers, the trade and consumers.
§ 25. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent unfair competition against United Kingdom egg producers after entry to the European 44W Economic Community as a result of the operation of the compensatory system.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart:I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave on 8th February to my right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Sir Robin Turton).—[Vol. 830, c. 297.]
§ 26. Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many main intervention centres and subsidiary intervention centres will be established in relation to cereal production in the United Kingdom after entry to the European Economic Community.
§ 28. Mr. Moateasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the new regulations which will come into force in the United Kingdom on entry to the European Economic Community for cereals, and as to what the minimum quantity for intervention purposes will be.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI explained in reply to a Question on 9th May by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) the arrangements that need to be made to apply the common agricultural policy of the Community to cereals, including the minimum quantities for sales into intervention. The pattern of intervention centres and of prices are to be worked out in consultation with the Community and will then become the subject of regulations under the Act of Accession.—[Vol. 836, c.321–4.]
§ 27. Mr. Brayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether United Kingdom producers of poultry meat will be obliged to change to spin chilling of their produce on entry to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartSpin chilling is already a common practice both in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. As a member of the enlarged Community the United Kingdom like all other members, will be expected to ban the use of the spinchiller from 1st January, 1977 in accordance with the EEC's poultry health directive.
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§ 29. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he intends to make during the period when eggs graded to both European Economic Community and United Kingdom standards are sold side by side in United Kingdom shops.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartA change-over period is necessary while grading machines are being adjusted, but it will be kept as short as possible. The Government will ensure that there is sufficient publicity at the time of the change-over to enable housewives to assess the new grades.
§ 44. Mr. Gwynoro Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers of oversight he will have over officials of his Department who go to work in the European Economic Community Agricultural Directorate.
§ 45. Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if officials of his Department who go to work in the European Economic Community Agricultural Directorate in Brussels will continue to be responsible to him.
§ Mr. PriorOfficials who accept employment with institutions of the European Communities will be responsible to those institutions and the question of oversight by me will not arise.
§ 48. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the continuation of statutory marketing boards after British entry into the European Economic Community, and in order to conform to the Common Market agricultural policy.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 8th February last.—[Vol. 830, c. 299–300.]
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make a statement regarding the agricultural intervention agencies which will operate in the United Kingdom if Great Britain joins the Common Market.
§ Mr. PriorAnnouncements have already been made about the proposed46W establishment of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and about the operational functions to be undertaken by the Home Grown Cereals Authority as agents of the board. My Department is in consultation with the Meat and Livestock Commission about its possible functions.