§ Mr. Roger EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will identify the specifically agricultural factors which support the division of the United Kingdom into the announced separate production regions, pursuant to his exercise of his powers and duties under article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryUnited Kingdom Agriculture Ministers announced proposals for the division of the United Kingdom into regions in accordance with this regulation on 29 September 1992. The decision followed a careful examination of the available data on yields throughout the United Kingdom, the basis of which is set out in the regionalisation plan submitted to the European Commission on 16 September 1992. Copies of the plan have been placed in the Library of the House. During the coming year we shall be carrying out further work on yield patterns to see whether alternative regionalisation arrangements might be warranted for future years.