§ 45. Mr. Mulleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will propose within the review of the agricultural policy in the EEC that the Community should provide and finance free milk for all schoolchildren and/or retirement pensioners in member countries who wish to take it, in addition to the present limited butter subsidy, as an alternative to its present intervention policies, in view of the fact that they have caused the stockpiling of butter and its disposal, outside the Community, at low prices.
§ Mr. GodberThe review of the common agricultural policy should provide an opportunity of examining every possible means of dealing with the problem of surplus milk production. At this stage, however, it would be premature to accept a commitment to this or any other particular proposal.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are any commitments in the European Communities Act which prevent the permanent or temporary application of food subsidies.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the provisions of the Treaty of Rome which relate to the introduction of further food subsidies in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Act gives effect to our Community obligations including those relating to State aids in Articles 92 to 94 of the Treaty of Rome. Whether food subsidies would be possible under these provisions would depend upon the nature of the subsidy and the view taken by the appropriate Community institutions.