Common Agricultural Policy

HC Deb 12 June 1991 vol 192 cc601-2W

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 375, if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy and by national grants and subsidies in both actual and real terms for 1960–61 and for each year from 1973–74 to 1990–91.

Mr. Curry

Separate figures for expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy and on national grants and subsidies are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sir Peter Emery

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the positive steps taken by his Ministry to move the emphasis from quantitative to qualitative support in agriculture policy in the EC.

Mr. Curry

The Government have supported a number of changes to the common agricultural policy designed to make Community agriculture more market orientated. Such changes should encourage farmers to respond to consumer demand and to rely less on artificial outlets such as intervention.