§ Mr. Torneyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the sale of Common Market butter to the USSR at a giveaway price, and the subsequent resale of the product in the EEC via Italy, thus creating considerable profits.
§ Mr. BishopI am aware of newspaper reports on this matter and I welcome the inquiry which the European Commissioner is now making. We have made it clear that our basic aim is to avoid the creation of surpluses which have given rise to such sales; but where surpluses do occur, we have stressed that Community consumers should have priority in their disposal.