HC Deb 19 July 1973 vol 860 cc172-4W
17. Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress with the review of the common agriculture policy.

27. Mr. Jay

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the review of the common agricultural policy of the EEC.

29. Mr. Moate

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Godber

The Commission is at present undertaking an examination of the common agricultural policy and we await its report. The matter has not yet reached the agenda of the Council of Ministers, but it is planned to discuss it in that forum in October.

20. Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the National Farmers' Union and the National Union of Agricultural Workers concerning the proposed terms of the principles and mechanism of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Godber

No formal consultations have been held but officials of my Department are in regular touch with these unions.

22. Mr. Heffer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Her Majesty's Government's policy is towards reform of the common agricultural policy; and what discussions have been held with the EEC thereon.

23. Mr. Russell Kerr

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made to the EEC for the reform of the common agricultural policy in the course of the current review.

40. Mr. Powell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the main elements of the EEC common agricultural policy which Her Majesty's Government will be seeking to eliminate or modify in the forthcoming review by the Council of Ministers.

43. Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals Her Majesty's Government will put forward at the forthcoming review of the EEC common agricultural policy for reforming its mechanisms.

Mr. Godber

I have made known my general views on the review of the common agricultural policy on a number of occasions in this House and elsewhere, and the Commission is aware of them. No formal proposals have been called for from member Governments, but when the Commission's proposals are tabled there will be ample opportunity to discuss any alternative views we and other Governments may wish to put forward.

24. Mr. Woof

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the course of the present review of the EEC's common agricultural policy, Her Majesty's Government will propose that income support should be substituted for price support as the basis of that policy.

Mr. Godber

As I have said before, some shift of support from market prices to aids to production would be desirable, but this question will of course be for detailed discussion by the Council of Ministers in due course.

25. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will propose the abolition of intervention buying and denaturing of food in the course of the present review of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

No.

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