§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the partial ban on imports of British beef by West Germany.
§ Mr. MacleanThere is no scientific justification for the West German restrictions on imports of beef from this country. This view was endorsed at the meeting of Agriculture Ministers which my right hon. Friend the Minister attended last week where the Commissioner confirmed that expert scientific advice was that British beef did not pose a risk to human health and that any interference with trade would be contrary to Community law. The German authorities will be reflecting on this and I hope they will soon remove their restrictions.