Butter Council (Advertising)

HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 cc25-6W

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to counter the Butter Council's use of European funds to finance advertisements against the margarine industry; and if he will make a statement. [32098]

Mr. Jack

A final decision on EC funding for the Butter Council's advertising campaign will be taken by the intervention board when the Council completes its contract later this year. The board will take account of the views which have been expressed by the Advertising Standards Authority on the advertisements. In the meantime, with the Government's support, the EC Commission has decided to prohibit negative comparative advertising in future contracts under the EC scheme for promoting the consumption of milk and milk products.