§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the262W Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 20 and 21 February; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council.
The main item on the agenda was a proposal to improve the protection of farm animals transported within the Union. I reported on this to the House earlier today. A presidency compromise remains on the table, though it is not acceptable to me in its present form.
The Council had a first discussion of the proposals for 1994–95 farm prices. It will return to this item at its next meeting.
I advocated that arrangements should he put in place allowing for the leasing of milk quota across national boundaries. This will now he finther considered at official level so that the Commission can decide whether to take the matter forward.
The United Kingdom raised the question of veal crates. The commissioner said that he expected to make an interim report well before the end of the year.