asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards an EEC régime for mutton and lamb; if this will incorporate intervention buying and storage; and what effect this will have on the United Kingdom's imports of New Zealand lamb and mutton.

Following the Council of Agricultural Ministers in October, technical discussions have been held on proposed interim Community arrangements for mutton and lamb. These contain no provisions for intervention buying and storage. We have said that an interim régime which contained measures which might restrict access for the United Kingdoms imports of New Zealand mutton and lamb would be unacceptable.