§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the substantially greater sales of wheat, barley, flour, malt, butter oil, beef and wine by the EEC to the Soviet Union in the 10 months since the invasion of Afghanistan over the whole of the previous year, he is satisfied that sufficient powers are available to Her Majesty's Government within the EEC to ensure that such sales are limited to traditional quantities as agreed by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe Foreign Affairs Council decided on 15 January that supplies of agricultural products from the Community should not take the place of embargoed United States exports to the Soviet Union, and that trade should be restricted to traditional levels. The United Kingdom was instrumental in securing that decision, which remains in effect.
Despite difficulties in defining traditional trade levels, the Government are convinced that as a result of the 15 January decision the level of Community exports to the Soviet Union has been more restricted than it would otherwise have been.
It remains Government policy to oppose all subsidised food sales to the Soviet Union.