§ 21. Mr. GapesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the prospects for reform of the common agricultural policy following EU enlargement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden on 1 January is unlikely to have major implications for the common agricultural policy. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear to the House, however, fundamental changes to the CAP will he needed before the eastern European countries can join the European Union.
§ 24. Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Prime Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for tackling fraud in the CAP.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFraud against the CAP is a Community problem which must be tackled collectively by Community institutions and member states. Clearly, fraud must not be allowed to pay and the Government will continue to press the Commission for further reforms of the CAP, to reduce the scope for fraud, and for tougher penalties to be applied to those proved to have benefited from aid to which they were not entitled.