6.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to ameliorate the effect of clawback on sheep exported to other Community countries.
During the seven months up to March, exports to other Community countries have averaged over 4,500 tonnes a month, which compares favourably with trade in recent years.
I recognise that British sheepmeat exporters have coped remarkably well with the problems of the sheepmeat agreement, but is my right hon. Friend aware that the problems they are now experiencing are very great? Will he therefore take steps to try to ameliorate those problems?
The figures that I mentioned indicate that some of the fears that were originally voiced about this export trade were not realised. I pay tribute to the efforts of our exporters. At the same time, I acknowledge that there are at present substantial difficulties, just as there were at exactly the same time last year. We shall take any opportunity within the Community to improve these arrangements and do our best in the interests of our export trade.