§ Mr. Harrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has recently agreed to the adoption of any EC measure by the Council before the European Legislation Committee has considered the proposals.
§ Mr. JoplingYes. On 20 December the Fisheries Council adopted a large number of measures, presented at short notice by the Commission, which provided for adjustments to the common agricultural and fisheries policies required by the accession on 1 January of Spain and Portugal. That Council also adopted three other urgent fisheries measures and a measure changing the French green rate for sheepmeat with effect from the start of the new marketing year on 6 January. I have explained to the Chairman of the European Legislation Committee the reasons for my having agreed to adoption of these measures before scrutiny was completed.