§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the views of the Minister for Animal Welfare, given to the British Columbia veterinary association Council in 1999 and quoted in the Veterinary Record on 13 April 2002, that "unless British farmers can produce demonstrably better or different food than other countries, then food will be sourced on a least-cost basis" and "if other countries choose to subsidise their food production, then we will purchase their produce at a net saving to our consumers". [HL4010]
141WA
§ Lord WhittyI believe that the noble Baroness is referring to a meeting with the British Cattle Veterinary Association and not the British Columbia veterinary association. I understand that while my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Commons) believes her first quote to be accurate the second he believes is not.
I agree with my colleague, who was simply trying to remind the association that the rules of economics apply for food and agricultural products as in other sectors of the economy. In the marketplace, unless your product can be differentiated and consumers are prepared to pay a premium, all other things being equal they will purchase at the lowest price they need to pay for the quality of product they wish to consume. That applies both within countries and in international trade. Of course controls are necessary in international trade to protect animal health and to ensure that foodstuffs imported into our market meet our standards.