HC Deb 06 March 1997 vol 291 c745W
25. Mr. Connarty

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent discussions at the Council of Ministers on the lifting of the ban on British beef sales. [17570]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The procedures envisaged for lifting the export ban involve the Standing Veterinary Committee and other advisory Commission committees, not the Council Nevertheless, I have kept the Council informed on the UK's progress in fulfilling the preconditions laid down under the Florence agreement. Now that we have fulfilled all the preconditions and I have sent Commissioners Fischler and Bonino our proposals for a UK export certified herds scheme, I will be telling the next Agriculture Council what we have achievedandpressingforearlyprogress.