§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on his negotiations with the European Community on the problems of ethyl alcohol.
§ Mr. WigginSince the hon. Member last raised this issue, discussions have continued at technical level. The hon. Member will be aware that, as part of the CAP prices package, I have ensured that a regulation providing for refunds on Community cereals used in exported Scotch whisky will be introduced at the latest on 1 January 1981.
The Commission and other member States have expressed the hope that an alcohol regime, including the problem of ethyl alcohol, will have been completed before the end of the year.