§ 5. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Economic Community which exist to safeguard from over-exploitation waters to which Community fishermen have access, and which will apply if Great Britain joins the Community.
§ Mr. PriorArticle 2 of the Structure Regulation allows each member State to maintain and add to its national conservation régime within its fishery limits, but only by measures which do not discriminate against other member States. Article 5 enables the Council of Ministers to supplement these national measures if required.
The provisions which will apply if we join depend of course on the outcome of the entry negotiations.
§ 6. Mr. John E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect entry into the Common Market will have on the position of producer marketing organisations in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement on this subject which my right hon. Friend made during the debate on the European Economic Community on 21st January.—[Vol. 809, c. 1323–4.]
§ 7. Sir J. Rodgersasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what way recent farm price increases in the European Economic Community will affect the prospects for British cereal producers if Great Britain joins the Community.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartIf they applied when we joined, the recently announced increases in the European Economic Community's cereals prices for the 1971–72 season, though small in relation to its existing price levels, would slightly increase the already higher returns United Kingdom cereals producers could expect within the Community.
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§ 36. Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those items of the European Economic Community's fishing policy which Her Majesty's Government is prepared to accept if Great Britain enters the Community; those which Great Britain cannot accept; those which are subject to negotiation; and those upon which Great Britain has reserved her position.
§ Mr. PriorNo. My right hon. Friends and I are carefully studying the implications of every part of the common fisheries policy of the Community, and the reservation of our position on it in the entry negotiations means that we have not committed ourselves to acceptance of any of its provisions.
§ 39. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the British fishing industry could expect to benefit from the proposals for market support included in the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Economic Community, if Great Britain joins the Community.
§ Mr. PriorThis will depend on the outcome of the entry negotiations but if the support arrangements were to prove successful in an enlarged Community in their aim of maintaining a more stable market there should be some advantage to our industry.
§ 42. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what figure the European Economic Community's budget for structural reform of agriculture has been set; and what prospect there is of its being increased in future.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe budget for the Guidance Section of the Community's Agricultural Fund is at present set at 285 million units of account per annum. Its future level will depend on decisions of the Council of Ministers.
§ 45. Sir A. Meyerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the estimated effect on hill farmers 53W who use grass for fodder, if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community, of the higher cost of livestock feedingstuffs in the Community.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartHow much the higher European Economic Community cereal prices will affect hill farmers' costs will depend on their success in making better use of their grazings. This is a matter to which the Hill Farming Research Organisation is paying particular attention.
§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the British butter blending industry will be affected if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community; what changes would be required in the European Economic Community food regulations to enable this industry to operate in the Market; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThere is no regulation in the European Economic Community preventing the manufacture of blended butter. There is a draft proposal which would prevent the mixing of different makes of butter, but this is not in effect. The draft reflects the market circumstances of the present European Economic Community, where there is not a taste for blended butter.
Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the workings of Articles 2 to 4 of R.2124/70 of the European Economic Community fishing policy at fishing ports within the European Economic Community; what is likely to be the effects in British fishing ports; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is satisfied that Regulation R.17/64, Article 18 of the European Economic Community will be of benefit to the British fishing industry should Great Britain join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he is satisfied that Regulation R2455/70 of the European Economic Community fisheries policy is workable in United Kingdom circumstances and to the benefit of the British fishing industry and the consumer, should the United Kingdom join the European Economic 54W Community; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will make a statement on the estimated benefits which will accrue to the British fishing industry, should Great Britain join the European Economic Community, of Regulation R.110/71 of the European Economic Community fisheries policy:
(5) what he expects to be the effects of Regulations R 2142/70 of the European Economic Community fisheries policy on the British fishing industry; and if he will make a statement;
(6) if he is satisfied that the application of the Article (2)(1/1b) of Regulation R 170/71 of the European Economic Community fisheries policy is in the best interests of the British fishing industry, should Great Britain join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement;
(7) what study he has now made of the effects of the regulations arising from the European Economic Community fisheries policy on the United Kingdom fishing industry.
§ Mr. PriorAs we have in the entry negotiations reserved our position on the whole of the common fisheries policy of the Community, how far and to what effect any particular regulation forming part of that policy might apply in the United Kingdom cannot be forecast with any assurance at this stage. Moreover it is not yet clear how the existing Community will operate certain provisions, for example those on Community and State aids to which Article 18 of Regulation 17/64 is relevant, and those prohibiting discrimination by nationality such as Article 2(1)(b) of Regulation 170/71.
I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that we are well aware of the doubts in our own fishing industry about the possible effects of the provisions he mentions (except Regulation 110/71 which deals with cereals), and that the aim of our continuing study is to ensure that all necessary issues will be covered in negotiation.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now call a round-table conference with representatives of employees and 55W employers in the fishing industry to discuss the implications of the British application to join the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorMy right hon. Friends and I have been and will continue to be in touch with every sector of the industry in whatever way proves most useful as the entry negotiations develop.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, in view of the fact that last year his Department stated that food prices would rise by 18 per cent. to 26 per cent. on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, his Department is now disputing these figures.
§ Mr. PriorThere is no question of disputing the figures estimated in 1970 since as I told the House on 21st January, that they may now be on the high side.—[Vol. 809, c. 1319–20.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under present known conditions of entry into the European Economic Community, to what extent the United Kingdom apple and pear acreage would be expected to be grubbed up; and what payments would have to be paid to offset the loss to these fruit producers.
§ Mr. PriorIt is generally agreed that the United Kingdom apple and pear acreage will have to be reduced, whether or not we enter the European Economic Community, but I cannot set a figure on the likely reduction. I have made it clear that I will discuss with the leaders of the industry what help the Government might give to horticulturists who face difficult problems of adjustment on entry into the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he now has to ensure that the standards of animal hygiene and animal welfare required by law from British farmers will not place them at a disadvantage when competing with the agricultures of Common Market countries.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe animal hygiene requirements of the Common56W Market are no less stringent than our own, and the question of disadvantage is not likely to arise. United Kingdom legislation makes reasonable provision for animal welfare without imposing undue restrictions on producers. If we enter the European Economic Community it will be our aim to safeguard the interests of British producers, while maintaining suitable animal welfare standards.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give an undertaking that the compensation and slaughter policy for combatting foot-and-mouth disease will be maintained irrespective of the policies that are implemented in the Common Market countries where the disease is endemic.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartFoot and mouth disease is dealt with in European Economic Community Member States by a policy of vaccination, combined with slaughter and compensation in appropriate cases. If we become a Member, the European Economic Community Directive governing intra-Community trade in cattle and pigs would require us to accept imports of vaccinated stock, which would raise difficulties on the continuation of our present policies on foot-and mouth. We have therefore raised the matter in the negotiations.