§ 27. Mr. CranTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in reducing European Community agricultural surpluses.
§ Mr. RyderThe measures agreed at the European Council in February 1988, notably on budgetary discipline and the reform of the CAP, have greatly reduced the incentive to surplus production.
669WIntervention stocks of most major commodities have reduced significantly. Stocks of butter are down by 94 per cent. since 1986. Cereals stocks are down about 60 per cent. since 1985. Skimmed milk powder stocks, which were over 1 million tonnes in 1986, are now virtually non-existent. Beef stocks are down about a half since 1985.