§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what preparations his Department is making for the operation of the internal market in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorI refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) at column675.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has made an assessment of how the completion of the internal market in the European Community will affect the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he has made an assessment of how the completion of the internal market in the European Community will affect the food industry; and if he will make a statement;
(3) whether he has made an assessment of how the completion of the internal market in the European Community will affect the agricultural supply trade; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThere is much still to be done before the arrangements for the operation of a single market are fully in place, but the new market will clearly offer both wider opportunities and a challenge. It is too early to make a proper assessment, but the Government are encouraging all sectors of the industry to continue to make thorough policy to capitalise on the opportunities which will be provided by the single market.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the impact of the movement towards the internal market on the agromonetary system of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorI strongly support the Commission's objective of removing all mcas by 1992, since they are incompatible with a common internal market. The Commission and the Council have affirmed that the devaluations agreed at the recent price fixing are a first stage in that process, and the Commission has agreed that it will report in the autumn on the most appropriate means of completing it.