§ Mr. David DavisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 15 and 16 October.
§ Mr. GummerI represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.
The main subject discussed was the Commission's proposal for a Community offer for reductions in agricultural support and protection in the current GATT round. Some Ministers were not able to take a definite stance and eventually the chairman decided to suspend the meeting and resume discussion on 19 October to allow them the opportunity for consultations in capitals.
I much regret that, with so much preparation, this Council was not able to endorse the Commission's package, which provides a useful basis for taking forward the talks in the GATT round.
The Council agreed on a useful amendment to the pesticides prohibition directive and on a resolution on veterinary measures required for the achievement of the single market.