§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to give effect to the Lome convention provisions requiring bananas from the African, Caribbean and Pacific states to gain access to United Kingdom and EC markets without being severely disadvantaged by banana imports from Latin American producers.
§ Mr. CurryThe United Kingdom's current banana market arrangements are designed to ensure preferential access for our traditional suppliers in African, Caribbean and Pacific states. Formal Commission proposals are expected shortly for harmonised EC arrangements to complete the single market, to replace these and other national schemes. The Government are determined to ensure that these new arrangements will fully meet our Lome convention obligations, while being compatible with a successful conclusion to the GATT Uruguay round negotiations.