CAP Reform (Hansard, 22 April 1999)

§ 10. Ms Keeble
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact which reform of the CAP will have on the consumer. [80352]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
CAP reform should result in significant savings for consumers, of the order of £1 billion a year in aggregate when all the changes have 671W worked through. The average family of four will save £65 per year provided the likely reductions in market prices are passed to retail.

§ 25. Mr. Ben Chapman
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reform of the common agricultural policy in connection with farmers' incomes. [80368]

§ Mr. Lansley
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the effect on farmers of the CAP reform package agreed at the Berlin summit. [80369]

§ Mr. Morley
The reform package will increase the market orientation of European agriculture and assist producers in their efforts to improve the competitive position of their businesses. In the short term, before these adjustments take place, there may be a negative impact on aggregate incomes of the order of 5 per cent. But in the particularly hard pressed beef sector, incomes have been fully protected.

§ 27. Mr. Luff
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the final outcome of the negotiations on reform of the common agricultural policy on the competitiveness of UK dairy farming. [80370]

§ Mr. Morley
The competitiveness of UK dairy farming will depend on the ability of producers to adjust to the new market situation. However, the agreement preserved the milk quota system and as long as this remains UK dairy farmers will be prevented from competing freely on world markets.

§ Mr. Drew
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Agenda 2000 CAP Reform consultation exercise. [82167]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
I have today sent to interested organisations an information document entitled "CAP Reform Agreement" which summarises the outcome of the negotiations on the CAP reform package of Agenda 2000. It also includes an economic note on the likely effect of the reforms upon producers, taxpayers and consumers, and a summary of responses to the consultation exercise received to date. A further consultation will be undertaken on the implementation of the agreed CAP reform measures when detailed regulations and details of available Community funds are known.
I have also made available today two consultation documents which stem from the agreement on CAP reform on which early preparatory action is necessary. The first, "Rural Development Regulation: Consultation on Implementation in England", seeks views on mechanisms for drawing up and operating seven year rural development plans. We will be asking for comments on who should prepare plans, on the geographic areas they should cover and on who should operate them.
The second, "Supporting the Hill Farmer", seeks views on how we should support farming in the Less Favoured Areas in future. Since the Agenda 2000 reforms have changed the basis on which LFA support can be provided, we will be replacing our Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances scheme. We hope this consultation document will stimulate a wide debate on how we should design a new and better framework of support for our hill farmers.
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I shall be placing copies of these documents in the Library of the House today.