§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether during the summer Adjournment United Kingdom agreement was given to the adoption by the Council of any European Community measure before the European Legislation Committee had considered it.
§ Mr. JoplingYes. The Fisheries Council agreed, as a result of a United Kingdom request, to increase the total allowable catch for Clyde herring from 3,100 tonnes to 3,400 tonnes; and the Agriculture Council adopted with United Kingdom agreement a measure repealing certain retaliatory trade steps against the United States of America following the roll-back agreement between the Community and the United States of America. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State has explained to the chairman of the committee why he agreed on behalf of the United Kingdom to adoption of these measures and of a number of other items of lesser importance.
The House will also wish to know that the Agriculture Council agreed to devalue the Irish green rate by three points for crops and six points for livestock products before the committee had considered the proposal. The United Kingdom did not vote in favour, but the measure was nonetheless adopted by a qualified majority.