Agriculture Council

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:33 pm on 25 January 1989.

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Photo of Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith , Kincardine and Deeside 3:33, 25 January 1989

May we on this side of the House join in sending good wishes to our right hon. Friend the Minister? We respect the efforts of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary of State at what must have been a difficult meeting, which he joined late. We are grateful to him for standing up for British interests as he has done.

Will my hon. Friend acknowledge that the beef matter will be discouraging for many farmers where our structure for beef production is different from the rest of Europe, particularly in Scotland? Many farmers have diversified into other areas, such as from milk or cereals into beef, and they will find themselves restricted. Can my hon. Friend say whether consideration has been or could be given to relating the restrictions on headage numbers and steers only to labour units per farm rather than to the farm itself? That would recognise the different structure in Britain, particularly in Scotland, compared with the rest of Europe.