§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the impact on public health in the third world of the expenditure by the European Economic Community on the production and dumping of high-tar tobacco; and if she will make a statement.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI have been asked to reply.
The Government are concerned at the grave consequences on health of smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco both in Europe and in the third world. We have long been critical of the Community's CAP tobacco regime. We have consistently argued that support for this crop should be reduced. We were successful in securing the introduction in 1988, of measures to reduce expenditure and discourage the production of the less-marketable and higher-tar varieties, for example through the stabiliser mechanism. Further reductions in support for certain of the less-marketable varieties were agreed in this year's price-fixing negotiations. Our objective is less production, reduced intervention and less subsidised export, of the higher-tar varieties. We shall take every opportunity to continue to pursue this policy in future negotiations.