Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Minister responsible for Northern Ireland agriculture last attended a meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers in Brussels; 179W and if he will make a statement on the contribution of his Department to European Union agriculture policy decisions. [95075]
§ Mr. George HowarthMy hon. Friend Lord Dubs, the Minister responsible for agriculture in Northern Ireland, last attended the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers on 5 March 1999 during the final stages of the negotiations on the Agenda 2000 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He also attended the Fisheries Council meeting on 17-18 December 1998.
The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland plays a full and active role in the establishment of the UK's position on relevant EU agricultural policy issues. Decisions on EU agricultural policy are, of course, beyond the remit of a single member state and reflect the collective position of all fifteen members of the European Union. Nevertheless, recent examples of the successful representation of Northern Ireland interests in the EU Council of Ministers include the introduction of the Export Certified Herd Scheme in June 1998 and the special allocation of additional milk quota to Northern Ireland as part of the Agenda 2000 agreement on CAP reform, neither of which was replicated in other parts of the UK.
The issues arising at each Agriculture Council meeting are discussed in advance by senior officials of the four UK Agriculture Departments. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also meets his agriculture Ministerial colleagues before each Council meeting.