Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 3 Tachwedd 1965.
Mr James Scott-Hopkins
, North Cornwall
12:00,
3 Tachwedd 1965
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his recent tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Sir Raymond Gower
, Barry
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his official visit to New Zealand; and what discussions he held there on the question of Great Britain entering the Common Market.
Mr Thomas Peart
, Workington
With permission, I will answer Question Nos. 10 and 11 together. [Interruption.] I recognise that the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) is not here. I was merely being courteous to him.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) on Wednesday, 27th October. I held no discussions on the question of Great Britain entering the Common Market.
Mr James Scott-Hopkins
, North Cornwall
I did not ask about the Common Market. Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he place in the Library a copy of the speeches which he made in Australia and New Zealand? Would he now further elaborate on what is meant by "a substantial share"—I gather that those were the words which the right hon. Gentleman used—of the rising demand in this country which he promised to New Zealand and Australian farmers? How much does this mean, and what does he intend?
Mr Thomas Peart
, Workington
I will be delighted to put a copy of my speech in the Library. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will read it and not distort it. I have repeated time and again in the House, even in reply to the hon. Gentleman, and I said over and over again in Australia and New Zealand, that the British farmer will make the major contribution to the increase in demand for food in this country by 1970. Before the hon. Member seeks to continue this line of thought, I hope that he will carefully read my speech.
Mr George Mackie
, Caithness and Sutherland
Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply, in which he said that he held no discussion on this important subject, mean that the Government do not intend to discuss the Common Market in any way? Should not he have discussed this extremely important subject when he was in New Zealand?
Mr Thomas Peart
, Workington
I did not discuss the Common Market. It is true that from time to time I was asked questions informally, but I had no formal discussions on this subject.
Sir Harmar Nicholls
, Peterborough
On a point of order. It looks as though we are departing from an established practice. If an hon. Member is not here to ask a Question, he cannot have it answered. In fact, Question No. 11—
Dr Horace King
, Southampton, Itchen
Order. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not waste valuable Question Time. Two Questions were to be answered together. The hon. Gentleman who tabled the first one was not here. The hon. Gentleman who tabled the second one was here. What happened was in order.
Sir Harmar Nicholls
, Peterborough
May I pursue my point of order? It is within the recollection of the House that the Answer given by the Minister was the answer to Question No. 10—
Dr Horace King
, Southampton, Itchen
Order. I would ask the hon. Gentleman not to waste the time of the House on trivialities. As I have said, two Questions were answered together; and there the matter must remain.
Mr Joseph Godber
, Grantham
May I come back to the Question and the Minister's charge that my hon. Friends have been distorting? The right hon. Gentleman is grossly unfair. There were Press reports in this country—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]
Dr Horace King
, Southampton, Itchen
Even front bench Members must ask questions.
Mr Joseph Godber
, Grantham
I apologise, Mr. Speaker. May I ask the Minister whether he is aware that there were Press reports while he was in Australia and New Zealand which certainly gave the impression that he had been speaking with two voices? If he says that that is not so, we accept it. I am asking him why he charged my hon. Friends with distorting what he said when they were relying on Press reports.
Mr Thomas Peart
, Workington
Last week I asked the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Scott-Hopkins) for a categorical assurance that he would withdraw. He has not withdrawn. I ask him again to do so. I shall be delighted to put a copy of my speech in the Library.
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