§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will be taking to ensure that any system of direct payments per hectare will achieve environmental goals as well as social ones.
§ Mr. CurryAs my right hon. Friend the Minister made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 23 January, at column247. we intend, in negotiations on any proposals for changes to the common agricultural policy, to argue for the closer integration of agricultural and environmental policies.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make representations to the EC Commission to ensure that the regulation EC COM(90)366 makes provision for member states compulsorily to introduce measures to ensure the392W continuation of environmentally friendly farming practices and the option of allowing the introduction of a scheme to reduce plant protection and fertilise inputs.
§ Mr. CurryIn line with our policies for designating environmentally and nitrate-sensitive areas, we favour an approach that permits the member states to target the provisions in EC(COM)366 at those areas where they would be likely to achieve the greatest environmental benefits.