§ Viscount Davidsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 29 and 30 November.
89WA
Lord LucasThis meeting of the Council took no formal decisions.
The Council again considered the Commission's proposal to alter the calculation of the additional set-aside that farmers are required to make, in the following year, when the regional base area for arable crops has been exceeded. Other member states were prepared to accept a package of amendments to the proposal, one of which was that additional set-aside of less than 1 per cent. should not apply in 1996. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made it clear that he did not support this element, because it would illogically discriminate against fanners in areas where the additional requirement fell just the other side of the line.
There was a further discussion of the Commission's proposal for changes to the support system for fruit and vegetables. The Council reached no conclusions and will return to the subject at its next meeting.
In response to questions, the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Fischler, confirmed that he intended to submit his report on the treatment of veal calves in time for the Council's next meeting.