§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of reforms in the common agricultural policy on(a)EU self-sufficiency in maize and (b) the market price of maize-derived glucose. [27110]
§ Mr. BaldryWhen account is taken of year-on-year variations in area, yield and consumption, the effect of reform of the common agricultural policy on EU self-sufficiency in maize, which remains around 100 per cent. has been largely neutral.
The Department does not have independent price data on glucose and at present there is no simple and reliable way of distinguishing between glucose made from maize and glucose made from other raw materials such as wheat.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to alleviate the impact of increases in the price of maize-derived glucose produced in European Union countries on the British pharmaceutical industry; and if he will make a statement. [27111]
§ Mr. BaldryWith maize, as with other cereals, the Government's aim remains the progressive reduction of institutional price support, thereby removing one of the main factors leading to distortion between EU and world market prices for this raw material. In the short term, however, the Government are continuing to do all they can to ensure that the EU Commission operates the mechanisms designed to compensate EU starch and glucose users for the higher cost of their raw materials by comparison with those of their third country competitors in a fair and equitable manner.