§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures have been taken by the European Economic Community to curb production of Mediterranean products as foreseen in his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 27 April 1984, Official Report, columns 630–31.
§ Mr. MacGregorSince I replied to the hon. Member on 27 April 1984, at columns 630–31, it became apparent that the guarantee threshold applying in the 1983–84 marketing year to certain tomato products had been exceeded and as a consequence the proposed processing aid in respect of tomato concentrate in 1984–85 was reduced, proportionately, by 4.7 per cent.
Important decisions have been taken on wine. At its meeting on 25 to 27 February the Council of Ministers adopted measures amounting to a guarantee threshold whereby production in excess of a defined limit has to be distilled at low prices together with a system of aid for producers grubbing up vines and going out of production and a commitment to a restrictive price policy.