§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will investigate the level of promotional support given for food exporting by national Governments of individual EEC countries, with a view to raising any unfair trading practice with the European Commission.
§ Mr. ParkinsonBoth my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food already have a fair amount of information on other European Community countries' promotion of their food exports.
Our information does not suggest any breach of Community obligations. The primary responsibility for ensuring that there is no breach rests however with the Commission, acting on behalf of the Community as a whole; the common agricultural policy legislation and the competition rules of the Treaty of Rome provide the necessary legal framework.
I should be happy to consider any further information that my hon. Friend may have.