§ 93. Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities on agriculture and the environment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingThe Government gave their response to the 20th Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities on Agriculture and the Environment during the debate on the Report in another place on 23 July.
We welcomed the report as a valuable and timely contribution to the review of agricultural structures policy. As I explained in the reply I gave on 23 July, pursuant to my reply of 18 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) at column 516, we intend to explore with the Commission the idea of seeking a general provision in the structures regulation which would allow member States to give assistance to farmers in areas of high conservation value in order to encourage farming practices beneficial to the environment.