Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund

HC Deb 27 November 1987 vol 123 cc337-8W

Mr. Steel

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government policy on the European Commission's proposed changes to the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund intended to redirect investment and marketing to structurally backward regions.

Mr. MacGregor

As required by article 23 of the Single European Act, the Commission has proposed a framework of general policy and financial principles to govern the operations of the three Community structural funds, of which EAGGF guidance section is one. The Commission identifies five priority objectives for the funds: the objective mainly relevant to the guidance section is, with a view to reform of the common agricultural policy, the speeding up of the adjustment of agricultural structures and the promotion of the development of rural areas. The guidance section would also have a role in a further objective, that of promoting the development and structural adjustment of the less-developed regions. No specific changes in the various measures financed at present from the guidance section have yet been proposed by the Commission: the Government's attitude to any such proposals would depend on their likely consequences for the United Kingdom.