HC Deb 03 March 1988 vol 128 c679W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific measures he hopes to take to protect the future of family farms, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

All farmers need a stable framework of policy against which to plan their business decisions. This was lacking while CAP spending was not subject to proper budgetary control and while exhaustion of CAP funds threatened the collapse of the system. The decisions reached, notably on CAP reform, at the recent European Council have averted that threat and provided the clear framework farmers need.