HC Deb 04 April 1974 vol 871 cc407-9W
25. Mr. O'Halloran

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the state of the beef industry.

36. Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the financial difficulties facing beef rearers, if he will act immediately to avoid a shortage of beef in the coming year.

37. Mr. Peter Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the proposed 10 per cent. increase in the intervention price of beef.

Mr. Buchan

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement my right hon. Friend made in the House on 25th March.—[Vol. 871, c. 38–40.]

43. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he intends to do to strengthen market stability with beef sales now he has taken away intervention and there is no deficiency payment system.

Mr. Buchan

Market stability should be strengthened by the measures to keep supplies of beef moving into consumption at reasonable prices and by additional support to producer incomes announced in my right hon. Friend's statement of 25th March.—[Vol. 871, c. 38–40.]

44. Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will submit proposals to the European Commission designed to release to the consumer the 89,600,000 lb. of beef at present in cold storage.

Mr. Buchan

The United Kingdom has already asked the Commission to examine possible ways of releasing this beef for the benefit of consumers within the Community.

Mr. Freud

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what long-term policies he is studying to encourage investment in beef production in a situation where market prices fall short of production costs.

Mr. Peart

I have already indicated that I shall be having talks with the interested organisations on the longer-term situation of the agricultural industry. These talks will naturally cover beef production as well as the other sectors of the industry.

Mr. Freud

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in his negotiations with Great Britain's partners in the EEC, he will seek to ensure that a guaranteed price for beef becomes a feature of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Peart

The United Kingdom will certainly aim to ensure that the common agricultural policy for beef includes features which ensure adequate returns to beef producers.