§ Mr. Hall-Davisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give further details of the arrangements with the Government of the Republic of Ireland under which imports from that country are to be exempted from the new import levy schemes for beef, veal, mutton and lamb.
§ Mr. PriorThe Government of the Irish Republic have agreed that if our deficiency payments on fat cattle are reduced in any week because the average market price is below the target indicator price, an equivalent reduction will be made in the rate of Irish carcase beef export support ; that they will not reduce the differential between the rate of our deficiency payment and their export support below its present minimum of 1¼d. (0.5208p) per lb. without prior consultation with us with a view to agreeing on the maintenance of an appropriate relationship between our respective support arrangements ; that they will impose an export charge, of any amount by which their carcase beef export support is reduced below 1¾d. (0.7292p) per lb., on exports of fat cattle to this country should they reach a total of 200 head in any week when levies are in force on beef supplies from third countries ; and that the level of their support for carcase mutton and lamb exports to this country will not, save for agreed seasonal adjustments, exceed the rate of our deficiency payments on fat sheep. The Government of the Republic have further assured us that since they do not permit imports of fatstock or carcase meat from third countries there can be no question of re-exports to the United Kingdom. These arrangements will be kept under review.