HC Deb 13 March 1970 vol 797 cc385-6W
Mr. Rhodes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 578 on the control of brucellosis and rabies in Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd January, 1970; and whether they will meet the proposals contained in paragraph 7 (ii) of the recommendation.

Mr. Mackie

As an island country our disease control problems are very different from those of countries with land frontiers, to which this recommendation is in the main directed, but in so far as its provisions apply to the United Kingdom Her Majesty's Government subscribe to them.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 577 on a European Agriculture Charter which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd January, 1970; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in paragraph 8 of the recommendation.

Mr. Mackie

Her Majesty's Government support the objects of this recommendation but take the view that, because of the very different conditions prevailing in member countries, farmers' interests in this sphere would be better served by leaving member Governments to determine the measures best suited to their particular circumstances.

Mr. Rhodes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 579 on the state of forestry in Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd January, 1970; and whether they will comply with paragraph 6 (i) of this text and in particular promote, by providing adequate financial assistance, research on the social function of the forest.

Mr. Mackie

Her Majesty's Government broadly accept recommendation 579 and, in so far as they apply to conditions in Great Britain its objectives are already being implemented.