Hansard

Welsh Lamb (Exports To France)

Volume 972: debated on Monday 29 October 1979

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Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to facilitate the export of Welsh lamb to France.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

In addressing the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 18 September I emphasised the strength of feeling amongst sheep farmers in Wales about French discrimination against United Kingdom exports of sheepmeat.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has strongly impressed on the French Government the need to comply with the European Court of Justice's ruling which declared illegal France's import controls. My right hon. Friend has received a communication from the French Minister of Agriculture announcing some relaxation of import controls, but the French Minister has since made it clear that he is not prepared to allow full and unrestricted access to the French market for British lamb.This decision is incompatible with the judgment of the Court and my right hon. Friend is pressing Commissioner Gundelach to take action with the French to ensure compliance.