§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which areas of the EC tobacco is the only crop that can be cultivated.
§ Mr. CurryIn parts of southern Europe, and especially in Greece, infertile soils, dry climatic conditions, remoteness and poor transport links mean that no alternative crops can match tobacco's capacity to provide growers with a return.
§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total level of support, in sterling equivalent, for growing tobacco in the EC under the common agricultural policy in the latest year for which figures are available; and what measures are in hand to reduce this sum.
§ Mr. CurryIn 1991, the EC spent around £930 million (1,330 mecu) on the CAP tobacco regime. The substantial reforms agreed by the Council in the recent CAP reform package should progressively reduce annual EC expenditure on tobacco. The Commission estimates that, by 1997, this reduction should amount to over a quarter of current expenditure. A further review is to take place, effective from the 1998 harvest.