§ Sir Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will stop all imports of cattle from Ireland until his promise of assured reasonable returns to producers given on 62W 17th July to home producers has been fulfilled;
(2) in view of the effect of imported meat on the hook and on the hoof on the British beef industry, what action he proposes to regulate it;
(3) what is his policy towards the import of cattle from the Republic of Ireland; and whether these cattle are being stored at the expense of home-reared calves.
§ Mr. BishopRestraints on imports of Irish cattle and beef could be in breach of the Treaty of Accession and against the long-standing freedom of trade between the two countries. Imports of cattle from the Irish Republic contribute only about 5 per cent. of United Kingdom cattle slaughterings. I would refer the hon. Member to speeches made on agriculture by my colleagues in the debate on the Address.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the imports of cattle from the Republic of Ireland in the month of September; and what he expects to be the figures for October and November.
§ Mr. BishopOfficial import statistics for September are not yet available. Unofficial estimates indicate some reduction during October of imports of cattle from the Irish Republic into Great Britain. There are no forecasts of the likely volume of this trade during November.
§ Mr. Jayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what statutory authority he is prohibiting beef imports into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EEC.
§ Mr. BishopThe EEC Council suspended the issue of import licences under the authority of Article 21 of Regulation (EEC) No. 805/68. The EEC Commission has recently continued the suspension for the time being.