§ 29. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to current and future trade in lamb with France; and what advice has been given to the trade in this respect.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt is the Government's policy to promote an orderly export trade in lamb to France by seeking the removal of barriers to trade and opposing the introduction of any new restrictions. We have liaised closely with British traders over the recent actions taken by certain French farmers and the proposals of the French Government to introduce tests for growth promoters. We have also taken the views of the trade about the Commission's proposals for the review of the sheepmeat regime to help us decide how best to pursue the difficulties which restrain their access to the French market. Traders324W know that we are working to reduce factors which hinder this trade, in particular the clawback charge, and that we shall not hestitate to take action if unlawful restrictions are put in the way of our exporters.