§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on proposals by the European Commission for early retirement for farmers; and whether he has any plans to top up the basic EC payments.
§ Mr. CurryThe Government are examining the European Commission proposals on early retirement for farmers, which are part of a much wider package of proposals for the reform of the common agricultural policy, to assess their appropriateness to United Kingdom circumstances.