§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement about the proposals they have been making to the Commission of the EEC to encourage farming that does less damage to the environment.
§ Lord BelsteadWe tabled an amendment to the European Commission's proposed farm structures regulation that would allow encouragement to be given to farming methods that were beneficial to the environment in suitably designated areas of high conservation value. However, although we have succeeded in overcoming certain legal objections which were raised against our amendment, it has received virtually no support from other member states and the Commission. The Government will nevertheless continue to press its case strongly at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council in January.