§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meeting in Luxembourg on 25th-26th April.
§ Mr. John Silkin, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 642], gave the following information:
The Agriculture Council continued its consideration of agricultural prices for 1978–79 and related matters. At the outset the Chairman of the Council made compromise proposals which, however, failed to attract general support. He and Commissioner Gundelach then spent two days in bilateral consultations with member countries. Late on 27th April the Commission put forward a working document containing amendments to its original proposals. The Council decided to adjourn until 8th May to allow time for study of the revised proposals and for further contacts; and to extend the 1977–78 marketing years for beef and milk until 21st May.
The revised proposals will require careful study. They are said to add about one-quarter of 1 per cent. to the average price increase of 2 per cent. in the Commission's original proposals. They contain significant improvements to the original proposals for safeguarding the milk marketing boards, but would envisage a further decision by the Council on future Community arrangements of this kind in 710W four years' time. They fail to provide for any reduction in United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts on pigmeat but make improved provision for the United Kingdom butter subsidy. They include new provisions on wine and Mediterranean issues.
I said that in examining these new proposals Her Majesty's Government would want to assess how far they dealt fairly with the particular problems of the United Kingdom and other member countries. Our main criterion would be how effectively they attacked the present structural surpluses that have resulted from excessive price levels, and how far they would avoid the creation of new ones.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Fisheries) meeting in Luxembourg on 24th April.
§ Mr. John SilkinMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting. The Council agreed to extend until 31st May the interim fishing arrangements with Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. In the meantime, the Commission will continue to hold informal discussions on the internal policy with member Governments.