asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the anxiety expressed by farmers in Wales about the negotiations for an Anglo-Irish free trade agreement; and what conclusions he has reached on this matter.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House yesterday, an Agreement for a free trade area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland has now been reached. The Agreement applies to agricultural products as well as industrial goods, though there are a number of special provisions in relation to agriculture. I have no reason to believe that Welsh farmers will be adversely affected by the Agreement.