§ Mr. Mylesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on 15–16 November; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council on 15 and 16 November.
The Council agreed on the arrangements for levy-free imports of frozen beef in 1983 on the same basis as last year. This will be welcome to the United Kingdom meat trade.
Arrangements were adopted to extend until the end of 1984 the system of Community grants for projects for the improvement of marketing and processing of agricultural products.
The Council considered an interim report on discussions at the technical level of a number of proposals in the veterinary field, including those relating to the import arrangements applied by the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark in respect of foot and mouth disease: the technical discussions will continue with a view to agreement being reached at the next Council meeting on 13–14 December.