ntpdate doesn't parse the ntp.conf file.  The program ntpdate-debian is
provided that reads its server list from /etc/default/ntpsec-ntpdate or
alternatively from /etc/ntpsec/ntp.conf.

ntpdate is run whenever a network interface is brought up.  To adjust
this behavior, the file /etc/network/if-up.d/ntpsec-ntpdate should be
edited.

Note that ntpdate is *not* really intended to be used by hosts with
good network connectivity.  The "ntpsec" package, which provides a
persistent daemon that does a better job of keeping system time than
even a cron'ed invocation of ntpdate, is a better choice for systems
with good network connectivity.