HC Deb 05 April 1976 vol 909 cc71-2W
Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of reserve stocks of the main items of food which the EEC believes should be held by it to ensure security of supplies for the consumer in the next 12 months.

Mr. Bishop

One of the basic objectives of the common agricultural policy laid down in the EEC Treaty is to assure the availability of supplies. The Community has not specified, however, levels of stocks needed to achieve that objective, although a scheme, to be implemented next year, would require certain minimum stocks of sugar to be held.