1.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has made for consultations with the Ministers of Agriculture of the Common Market countries.
No special arrangements have been made.
Is not this rather extraordinary, in view of the various methods which the Government are now seeking of going into Europe? Surely consultation should be started right now to facilitate our entry.
I see no reason for this. I meet many Ministers from different countries, including the Common Market countries, from time to time, and I often have informal chats with them. No special arrangements have been made.
Could not the Minister go a little further? Will he say whether the attitude of the British Government is the same as it was before the election, namely, that he would expect others to adopt the British deficiency payment system if we join the Common Market rather than our adopting the Common Market system?
I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will know quite clearly what the attitude of the British Government is. It has been repeated so often by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Above all, we have always said that we must bear in mind essential and vital British interests, including agriculture.