§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the increasing general costs of United Kingdom cereal farmers, he will amend the EEC regulations which ban 515W sales of all but first and second generation seeds.
§ Mr. StrangNo. I have no evidence to suggest that the price of certified cereal seed of the first generation introduced into the United Kingdom on 1st July 1975 will have any material effect on the production costs of crops for human or animal consumption. This category is normally used for multiplication purposes of second generation seed which will come within the scope of United Kingdom marketing regulations after 1st July 1976. In these circumstances it would be premature to seek an amendment to the EEC directive on which the Cereals Seeds Regulations 1974 are based but I will watch the situation.