HC Deb 08 November 1988 vol 140 cc151-2W
Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to

Financial Year
County Council 1984–85 £ 1985–86 £ 1986–87 £
Avon 52,940 53,446 56,949
Bedfordshire 79,687 78,116 92,756
Berkshire 35,399 35,529 22,088
Buckinghamshire 69,764 70,604 68,024
Cambridgeshire 326,700 224,408 391,512
Cheshire 200,168 239,844 313,914
Cleveland 11,183 13,726 14,782
Cornwall 134,495 146,918 170,302
Cumbria 46,518 46,987 47,526
Devon 103,511 115,132 147,604
Dorset 79,494 91,291 93,809
Durham 95,398 107,572 109,360
East Sussex 19,050 32,861 28,066
Essex 137,749 110,340 121,761
Gloucestershire 159,150 121,320 142,859
Greater London Council 132,335 104,383 1
Greater Manchester n.a. n.a. 1
Hampshire 91,879 85,670 91,661
Hereford and Worcester 126,894 103,293 96,121
Hertfordshire 55,157 72,935 66,597
Humberside 84,929 97,619 77,083
Isle of Wight 34,357 23,067 20,185
Kent 44,307 52,647 51,310
Lancashire 89,409 96,198 106,361
Leicestershire 136,383 100,735 94,152
Lincolnshire 250,416 248,705 279,477
Merseyside 36,576 34,571 1
Norfolk 179,578 235,779 175,927

take in light of the European Court of Auditors report on the serious allegations of inadequate financial control over EEC food surpluses.

Mr. Ryder

I intend to ask for a discussion of this report at the next Agriculture Council on 14–15 November. The European Commission have announced that a working group will shortly be considering the report, and I wish to ensure that its findings are acted on speedily.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that the present reductions in food surpluses are not reversed at a later date.

Mr. Ryder

The measures agreed at the European Council in February on budget discipline and the reform of the CAP have greatly reduced the incentive to surplus production. Downward pressure has been exerted for a number of years on support levels, and this is now significantly augmented by stabilisers. With the reduced availability of intervention (which the Commission proposes should be taken further in the beef sector as part of the current review of the regime) the prospects for bringing Community supply and demand into better balance have been greatly improved. I shall continue to press for further action, and the current GATT round offers the opportunity to make reductions in support and protection in liaison with our trading partners.

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