§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the conclusions of the Council of Ministers on 30 May 1980 which instructed the Commission to draw up proposals for structural change without calling in question the basic principles of the common agricultural policy represent a commitment to preserve the common agricultural policy or a commitment to protect the agricultural objectives laid down in article 39 of the European Economic Community Treaty, whether by the preservation of the common agricultural policy or by other means; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe agreed definition of the essential basis of the common agricultural policy is set out 289W in articles 38 to 43 of the Treaty of Rome. As we have made clear on a number of occasions, the Government accept the basic systems of support under the agricultural policy but want to see big improvements in the way they operate.