§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that in a document published by the European Community's Agricultural Directorate, Green Europe, on "The New Common Agricultural Structures Policy", which was written in January 1984, there is only one reference to environmental considerations; whether they feel that this adequately reflects the increased emphasis given to environmental protection and improvement under the new Agricultural Structures Policy proposed by the Commission; what representations they have made to the Agricultural Directorate about this issue of Green Europe; whether they know why the Agricultural Directorate feel able to give a detailed explanation on how the new Agricultural Structures Policy will operate when the new directives have not yet been agreed by the Council of Ministers; and whether they agree that the lack of concern for the emphasis on environmental matters in this official explanation of how the new Agricultural Structures Policy will operate confirms the need for a stengthening of the environmental provisions in the new policy before it is agreed.
§ Lord BelsteadIt is not unusual for the Commission to issue policy documents explaining proposals it has put to the Council of Ministers. These do not bind the Council, which may, under the terms of Article 149 of the Treaty of Rome, acting unanimously, amend Commission proposals as it sees fit.
The Government have already made clear that they intend to seek to amend the Commission's proposed structures regulation to provide greater emphasis on the need to safeguard the environment. But it has to be borne in mind that this provision is essentially an agricultural measure.