§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the present price per gallon of oil charged to British glasshouse growers and the price of the gas equivalent to Dutch glasshouse growers.
§ Mr. WigginThe present estimated average prices charged to British glasshouse growers are 65.74p per gallon for gas oil and 38.10p per gallon for heavy fuel oil. Dutch gas prices, effective from 1 April 1980, to horticulturists are estimated at 29 cents per cubic metre for the first 15,000 cubic metres used and at 20.4 657W cents per cubic metre for consumption above this. These gas prices are equivalent to 36p per gallon of heavy fuel oil for the first 15,000 cubic metres and 26p per gallon of heavy fuel oil for further gas used.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to persuade the EEC Commission to undertake steps to end the present advantage to horticulture in the Netherlands provided by the existence of the special horticultural tariff for natural gas, as recognised in the Commission report to the Council on distortions of competition in hothouse agriculture; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WigginMy right hon. Friend pressed the Commission at the June Council of Agriculture Ministers to take urgent action on this report. It reported to the July Council that talks were being initiated with the Dutch Government. He demanded that these should be brought to a speedy conclusion.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from the National Farmers Union relating to costs affecting glasshouse growers in the United Kingdom; and what action he proposes to take upon them.
§ Mr. WigginWhen my right hon. Friend attended the council of the National Farmers Union on 18 July it expressed concern about the urgency of the problems of low cost energy to Dutch glasshouse growers.
At the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 22 July my right hon. Friend demanded speedy action by the Commission on discussions that it was initiating with the Dutch Government under article 93 (1) of the Treaty of Rome on the preferential rate charged to their growers for natural gas. The Commission assured the Council of its recognition of the urgency of the matter.