§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received an assurance from the European Economic Community Commission that it will re-examine the workings of the sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe main provisions of the regime have brought substantial benefits to United Kingdom producers and consumers but there have been problems for exporters as a result of the clawback arrangements and we have pressed the Commission to re-examine the working of these arrangements. It has now suspended clawback on third country exports and promised to review the Community's sheep export policy early next year. The support prices under the regime will be examined in th CAP price fixing in the usual way.