§ Mr. William PowellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 4 and 5 March.
§ Mr. GummerI represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon, the Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.
There was a first debate on the Commission's proposals for 1991–92 farm prices. I offered broad support for the Commission's proposals, but suggested a number of detailed ways in which they might be improved. I stressed in particular the need to adapt policies so that expenditure can be contained within the guideline in 1991 and the following years. I emphasised that proposals must be consistent with the need to increase agricultural efficiency and avoid discrimination between producers or member states.
The lack of realism among many member states in the face of the mounting budget overrun was particularly disappointing.