§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Prime Minister if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to oppose the sale, at subsidised prices, of food and wine to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; and what powers are available to Her Majesty's Government in the various Councils of Ministers to seek to achieve this objective.
§ The Prime Minister[pursuant to her reply, 24 April 1985, c. 4621: The Government's policy is to reduce the need for subsidised exports through measures designed to curb the production of Community surpluses for which there is no economic outlet. Where there are surpluses for export, the Government remain opposed to singling out particular countries for special treatment.
Decisions on the fixing of export refunds and sales out of intervention are taken by the Commission, subject to the opinion of the management committee. If a sufficient majority of members states vote against a Commission proposal in the management committee, then it has to be referred to the Council of Ministers, which may take a different decision by qualified majority vote.