§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister when was the outset to which she referred in her statement on the European Council (Brussels), 15 February,Official Report, column 705, and whether she will publish in the Official Report a list of the foodstuffs for which effective measures have now been agreed to reduce agricultural surpluses below the level which obtained in the year which preceded that time.
§ The Prime MinisterThe outset to which I referred was the start of the future financing negotiations in early 1987. The package on which agreement was reached at the European Council in Brussels contains both general measures to reduce surpluses and specific stabiliser measures for cereals, oil seeds and protein crops. The agreement on stabilisers for other products — sugar, wine, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, milk, sheepmeat, olive oil and cotton — is to be confirmed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 and 23 February.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister what is the expected cost of depreciating surplus stocks of agricultural products outside the agricultural guideline 21W under the terms agreed at the meeting of the EEC Council in Brussels; which departmental Vote will bear this and over what period of time; whether the same procedure will apply to new surpluses; and how these will be funded.
§ The Prime MinisterThe expected cost of depreciating existing surplus stocks outside the financial guideline is 6,800 mecu—£4,750 million—spread over the years 1988 to 1992. This amount will be paid to member states from the Community budget in the normal way to reimburse them for the loss in value of stocks which they have purchased. In future new stocks will be systematically depreciated within the guideline to prevent a build-up of commitments.