§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that guarantee thresholds for cereals under the common agricultural policy reduce production below the level it would otherwise have reached.
§ Mr. MacGregorGuarantee thresholds are intended to discourage surplus production by exerting a downward pressure on support prices if an agreed global production figure is exceeded. Clearly it is not possible to quantify this effect. The Government have made clear repeatedly that a limitation on prices is the best way of restoring the balance of the cereals sector and have pressed for improvements in the guarantee threshold system.