§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether the Government are prepared to accept a settlement on the European Economic Community budget in the absence of a ceiling on the production of surplus cereals.
§ The Prime MinisterThe agricultural package agreed on 31 March includes measures to curb cereals production through price cuts and guarantee thresholds. A ceiling on the production of surplus cereals is not an essential requirement of the present negotiations on the community budget, but we remain committed to seeking reforms that will deal satisfactorily with such surpluses.