§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support the maintenance of the EC safety net intervention for beef cattle in order to help mitigate the effects of further cuts in milk quotas.
§ Mr. CurryWe recognise that any cut in milk quotas will increase the volume of beef coming on to the market in the short term. However, we do not believe that it is sensible to turn a high-value product like beef into a low-value product by freezing it for intervention and to build up large stocks which then overhang the market. It is not justifiable to continue provisions which permit uncontrolled access to intervention at prices considerably in excess of the market price. In the negotiations currently in progress we are arguing that dependence on intervention must be reduced, and that strict controls are needed both on the quantity purchased and on the prices paid for it.