§ Lord Holmpatrickasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 20th and 21st January 1997.
Lord LucasThe Council held a first discussion of the Commission's report on the future of the tobacco regime. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food asked for the possibility of phasing out support for tobacco to be examined along with other options identified by the Commission.
The Council unanimously adopted a proposal strengthening the controls over eligibility for aid for growing flax. It adopted by qualified majority (Germany opposing) a proposal providing for the EC to contribute to member states' costs in dealing with serious plant pests.
During an informal discussion on follow-up to the Cork declaration on rural development, Commissioner Fischler outlined his view that EU rural support policy needed to be simpler, more comprehensible and better integrated, taking greater account of subsidiarity. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food broadly welcomed these principles, stressing the need for budget neutrality and the importance of considering these issues in the context of the CAP reforms which will be required to take account of EU enlargement.