§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made concerning the proposed suspension of the stabiliser for calculation of sheep annual premium payments. [63495]
§ Mr. RookerThe Government are not aware of any formal proposal to suspend the operation of the stabiliser applied under the EU regime for sheepmeat. The right to propose amendments to EU secondary legislation rests solely with the European Commission. Were the Commission to propose the suspension of the sheepmeat stabiliser, we would not support such a proposal, in view of its serious implications for both UK and EU expenditure.