§ Mr. William Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Economic 37W Community member states have technical and administrative difficulties concerning the application of the milk supplementary levy.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Agriculture Commissioner told the Council on 11 December that, apart from Luxembourg, all the member states where there might be a liability to supplementary levy this month had made the individual quotas known to their producers. The extent to which special cases and other administrative details had been completed varied considerably, but all member states still have some problems to resolve.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Economic Community member states have produced over their milk quota to date or for such periods for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MacGregorI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Economic Community member states have adopted a system of milk quotas based on dairies; and of these which have dairies which have to date exceeded that quota.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe following EC member states have adopted milk quotas according to formula B (ie based on wholesale milk deliveries to purchasers): Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland and Luxembourg.
We do not have information about the quotas issued to individual dairies in these member states. However, Denmark and France have both stated that they are within quota for the first half year, though the Commission is challenging the latter. Greece is not liable for levy until the end of 1984–85. Ireland and Luxembourg both appear to be above their quotas for the first half year. In the United Kingdom quotas are applied through Formula B in Great Britain where deliveries are within the purchaser quotas issued.
§ Mr. Spellerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the EEC member countries penalised for being believed to have produced more milk than is allowed under the Community quota scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn making its calculations of funds to be advanced to member states for financing expenditure on the CAP during December, the Commission has made allowances for the revenue estimated to be due under the supplementary levy. This affects the advances to all member states except Denmark, Greece and Italy.
We are fully committed to the milk supplementary levy arrangements agreed by the Agriculture Council in March. It is clear from last week's Council discussion and from the position adopted by other member states that there are differences in the interpretation of the rules and uncertainty about the amount of levy due. We are, therefore, suspending action for the time being. We are keeping the situation under review and are ready to collect and pay over any levies that may be due from us once the legal position becomes clearer and other member states are conforming to the requirements.