§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the progress of infraction proceedings against the Netherlands Government on the rigging of gas prices to the Dutch horticulture industry.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerAs I indicated to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) in the course of my statement on 25 February on the last meeting of the Agricultural Council, the European Commission again confirmed that legal action was continuing against the Dutch. I am losing no opportunity to press for this to be completed speedily, and shall urge the Commission to refer the matter to the European Court if there is no better way of securing an early removal of illegal distortions in comparative energy prices.