§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to seek to renegotiate the tariffs applied to imports into Spain of frozen vegetables from the United Kingdom: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerYes. We are actively seeking a reduction in the Spanish tariff on frozen peas.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications to the Spanish market of frozen vegetables from the United Kingdom of the increase in tariffs on such goods imposed by the Spanish Government since Spain's accession to the European Economic Community.
§ Mrs. FennerIt is difficult at this stage to make any precise assessment, but clearly an increase in the tariff will be unhelpful to our exporters.
Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when Her Majesty's Government first became aware of that the terms of the Spanish Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community would increase the duty on frozen vegetable exports from the United Kingdom to Spain from 4.1 per cent. to 15.7 per cent.; and if he will make a statement;
(2) why Her Majesty's Government agreed to those provisions of the Spanish Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community which had the effect of increasing the duty on exports of frozen vegetables from the United Kingdom to Spain; what steps were taken to negotiate more favourable terms for the United Kingdom in this regard; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerI refer the hon. Member to my replies of 8 April at column35 and 11 April at column 203.