§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Government have not insisted on the full application of the price reduction formula on cereals; and if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage reduction which the application of the formula would require.
§ Mr. MacGregorOur view is that the full 5 per cent. reduction required by the application of the guarantee threshold should be applied to the existing price level, without any offsetting norm price increase, although a norm price increase is not inconsistent with the existing guarantee threshold rules. We are continuing to make this clear in negotiations in the Council of Ministers, although there is widespread and stiff opposition to this view.