§ Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 10th and 11th November.
§ Mr. PeartThe two main issues of interest to the United Kingdom which were discussed were the stocktaking of the common agricultural policy and prices for New Zealand dairy products.
The Council considered the stocktaking of the common agricultural policy and reached conclusions which will be reported to the European Council in December. I consider that these conclusions represent further progress in securing the necessary improvements in the operation of the common agricultural policy.
The Council agreed that the returns received by New Zealand for butter and cheese under Protocol 18 should be increased by 18 per cent. from 1st January 1976. This has no direct effect on retail prices. Discussion of the import quantities for New Zealand butter in 1978 10W to 1980 was deferred to a later meeting of the Council.