§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been(a) the EEC guarantee threshold and (b) actual output for rapeseed compared with EEC output over the past 10 years; what assessment he has made of why the reduction of 10 per cent. in the guarantee price in 1987 did not result in a fall in output; what assessment has been made of the effect a further reduction in price of 8 per cent. will have on output; at what stage further price reductions will be triggered; what contribution these arrangements have made towards reducing agricultural surpluses; and what effect the EEC subsidies have had on imports from (i) the developing countries and (ii) other countries.
§ Mr. MacGregorI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The 1987 price reduction could not have affected rapeseed output this year since the decision was taken after the crop was planted. The additional estimated price reduction of 8 per cent. for 1988 is based on the Commission's assumed production for this year. If, however, 1988 or subsequent production proves higher than expected, additional price reductions will be introduced automaticaly in line with the objective of budgetary stabilisation.
There is no overall Community oilseed surplus, only a need to reduce and stabilise support expenditure.