§ 34. Mr. Fatchettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the beef variable premium scheme.
§ Mr. GummerAs part of this year's price fixing decisions, the Council of Ministers agreed that the European Commission's proposals for reforming the beef regime should be studied further with a view to decisions being taken by 31 December 1986. The regulations governing the beef variable premium scheme were accordingly extended to that date. The Commission's proposal for changes to the beef regime include a Community-wide premium scheme which is intended to256W replace the variable premium. The Commission has, however, undertaken to propose a continuation of the variable premium scheme, taking account of the budgetary situation, if changes to the regime are not agreed in time be brought into effect by the end of the year. Discussions on the proposals are continuing and we are pressing the merits of a slaughter premium scheme in that context.