HC Deb 22 October 1982 vol 29 cc248-50W
Mr. Proctor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to invoke the Luxembourg convention in order to stop the cheap sale of excess European Economic Community butter to the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith:

The reintroduction of sales of butter at subsidised prices to the Soviet Union is within the competence of the European Commission, and therefore this decision would not come before the Council of Ministers. The Government have made it clear that they remain firmly opposed to any proposal to reopen this section of the export market