To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present position of the European Commission on the question of banana exports from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and GATT tarification, following the Commissioners' meeting on 4 March.

I understand that no decision was reached at the meeting on 4 March and that the Commission is planning to discuss this question again on 25 March. The United Kingdom has pressed the importance of a GATT settlement in conformity with our continuing commitments to the Windward Islands and Jamaica.