§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to take further action to protect the exposed and fragile sections of British agriculture from the effects of the recent increase in subsidisation by the French Government to their agriculture industry to the extent of over £500 million.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe Commission is responsible for implementing the Community's state aid rules. At the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on 15 December I had the support of a number of other member States in urging the Commission to investigate promptly the recently announced aid package for French farmers and to take swift and effective action to prevent payment of any illegal aids. I will continue my efforts to see that the interests of our farmers are not undermined by unfair and illegal national aids.