§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify the intervention arrangements for the proposed EEC sheepmeat regime.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe agreement on sheepmeat reached at the Agriculture Council on 28–29 May provides for intervention to be operated at a member State's request in its territory if, during the period 15 July to 15 December, the market price in the member State and the whole Community falls below the intervention price. Intervention could also be introduced at other times of the year if the market situation required it. The intervention price would be varied on a weekly basis reflecting the seasonal pattern of marketings. Intervention would be limited to certain qualities of sheepmeat which are yet to be determined.
Member States could choose to apply a variable premium system similar to the present United Kingdom deficiency payments scheme instead of intervention. The United Kingdom would exercise this option and because our guarantee price would be the same as the intervention price in France our lamb should not go into intervention in France.
76WImplementation of these arrangements is dependent on the introduction of voluntary restraint agreements with third country suppliers of sheepmeat.