HL Deb 20 November 1985 vol 468 cc651-2WA
Lord Stodart of Leaston

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make a statement on the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting held in Brussels on 18th and 19th November 1985.

The Earl of Swinton

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with my right honourable friend the Minister of State, represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 18th and 19th November 1985.

The council had a first exchange of views on the latest Commission ideas for adjusting the cereal regime. These will now be discussed in detail by a group of senior officials. The Commission intend to present their proposals for discussion by the Council in December.

There was further discussion of the Commission's proposls for sugar for the next five years, for sugar for the chemical industry and for amending the starch regime. No decisions were reached.

The Council discussed a proposal for extending the payment of annual premium at 80 per cent. of the full rate to goats in certain regions and to shearling ewes of the Herdwick breed in the Lake District. My right honourable friend the Minister made it clear that this latter arrangement should apply to certain other slower maturing breeds in the Lake District and in certain areas of Scotland. The Commissioner was not prepared to amend the proposal and the President decided to consult the acceding countries on that basis to press for the additional coverage.

The Council discussed again arrangements for minimum standards for hens in battery cages. It was not possible to reach conclusions and the Council will come back to this in December.

On hormones, the Commission presented a proposal for banning the use of three natural and two synthetic hormones as growth promoters in cattle. The Commission explained that this proposal was in line with the opinion recently expressed by the European Council. My right honourable friend the Minister argued that it was a mistake to take decisions without regard to scientific evidence and drew attention to the problems of control and of trade with third countries. The proposal will be examined in detail by officials before further discussion in the Council.