HC Deb 23 June 1977 vol 933 cc505-6W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Macclesfield on 18th March, if he has now received the data and results being examined by his Department's expert committees into the proposals by the Governments of Canada and the United States of America to phase out the use of saccharine.

Mr. Strang

No. The expert committees have not yet completed their examination of all the relevant data and results. This is a complex subject requir-

Mr. Bishop

The Council of Ministers last considered the question of a common organisation of the market in potatoes in February when it called for a re-examination of the Commission's proposals. This is still in progress. The question of what role the Potato Marketing Board might play in future depends upon the outcome of the negotiations, in which our primary aim is to achieve a cost-effective solution satisfactory to both producers and consumers. Arrangements for intra-Community trade for the next marketing season are still under consideration.

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