asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his discussions whilst in New Zealand and Australia on the question of the lifting of the ban on the import to those countries of pedigree sheep from this country.

Although this question did not figure in my formal discussions with Australia and New Zealand Ministers, I took a number of opportunities of re-emphasising our interest in being able to export pedigree livestock, including sheep, to Australia and New Zealand. Both those countries, however, at present maintain a total ban on the importation of sheep because of the fear of introducing animal diseases.