HC Deb 21 February 1991 vol 186 cc428-9
12. Mr. Martlew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's position in the discussions now under way in the European Community with regard to fundamental reform of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have been the most consistent supporter of reform of the CAP and I am determined to fight for a reform that meets the criteria that I mentioned to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) earlier today.

Mr. Martlew

We have heard a lot of rhetoric from the Minister today about buying British, but, as British dairy farmers are not allowed to produce more than 86 per cent. of the milk consumed in this country, will the Minister state categorically that he will not accept any further cut in the United Kingdom milk quota? Would not it be monstrous for the efficient farmers of north-west England and elsewhere to have to pay the price for inefficiency and overproduction in the rest of Europe?

Mr. Gummer

Since Britain has become a member of the European Economic Community we have increased the amount of self-sufficiency in the dairy industry. One of the sadnesses of the present situation is that although we are only 86 per cent. self-sufficient, we are still manufacturing some of the lower-cost products, with lower returns to producers, because of our milk marketing system. So we need to reform that as a matter of urgency. What I will say to the hon. Gentleman is that I am not prepared to have a greater reduction in quotas in this country than occurs in other member countries of the European Community. The MacSharry plan proposes exactly that. I believe in fair shares for all.

13. Mr. Tredinnick

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the effect on British agriculture of the European Commission's proposals for reform of the CAP.

Mr. Gummer

British agriculture would be severely disadvantaged by what we know of the Commission's ideas. They would imply that support for cereals, compulsory set-aside, quota cuts in milk and headage limits for sheep would all bear vastly more heavily on the United Kingdom than on any country in the European Community.

Mr. Tredinnick

Does my hon. Friend accept that the MacSharry proposals would not only discriminate against Britain but would involve a major increases in CAP costs in all European countries?

Mr. Gummer

At a time of great budget crisis, MacSharry has produced proposals which would cost more than the 25 per cent. increase in the budget which appears to be scheduled for this year if we continue as we are. They are, therefore, unacceptable in budgetary terms and they are completely unacceptable because they disadvantage the United Kingdom.