§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to
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Financial Year County Council 1984–85 £ 1985–86 £ 1986–87 £ Avon 52,940 53,446 56,949 Bedfordshire 79,687 78,116 92,756 Berkshire 35,399 35,529 22,088 Buckinghamshire 69,764 70,604 68,024 Cambridgeshire 326,700 224,408 391,512 Cheshire 200,168 239,844 313,914 Cleveland 11,183 13,726 14,782 Cornwall 134,495 146,918 170,302 Cumbria 46,518 46,987 47,526 Devon 103,511 115,132 147,604 Dorset 79,494 91,291 93,809 Durham 95,398 107,572 109,360 East Sussex 19,050 32,861 28,066 Essex 137,749 110,340 121,761 Gloucestershire 159,150 121,320 142,859 Greater London Council 132,335 104,383 1— Greater Manchester n.a. n.a. 1— Hampshire 91,879 85,670 91,661 Hereford and Worcester 126,894 103,293 96,121 Hertfordshire 55,157 72,935 66,597 Humberside 84,929 97,619 77,083 Isle of Wight 34,357 23,067 20,185 Kent 44,307 52,647 51,310 Lancashire 89,409 96,198 106,361 Leicestershire 136,383 100,735 94,152 Lincolnshire 250,416 248,705 279,477 Merseyside 36,576 34,571 1— Norfolk 179,578 235,779 175,927 take in light of the European Court of Auditors report on the serious allegations of inadequate financial control over EEC food surpluses.
§ Mr. RyderI intend to ask for a discussion of this report at the next Agriculture Council on 14–15 November. The European Commission have announced that a working group will shortly be considering the report, and I wish to ensure that its findings are acted on speedily.
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that the present reductions in food surpluses are not reversed at a later date.
§ Mr. RyderThe measures agreed at the European Council in February on budget discipline and the reform of the CAP have greatly reduced the incentive to surplus production. Downward pressure has been exerted for a number of years on support levels, and this is now significantly augmented by stabilisers. With the reduced availability of intervention (which the Commission proposes should be taken further in the beef sector as part of the current review of the regime) the prospects for bringing Community supply and demand into better balance have been greatly improved. I shall continue to press for further action, and the current GATT round offers the opportunity to make reductions in support and protection in liaison with our trading partners.