HC Deb 01 February 1996 vol 270 cc929-30W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans next to meet his German counterpart to discuss CAP reform. [11283]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Jochen Borchert, has accepted my invitation to visit the UK to discuss the future of the CAP. I hope we will shortly be able to agree specific dates. We do, of course, meet regularly at meetings of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels or Luxembourg.

25. Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how often the common agricultural policy advisory group has met to discuss the future of the CAP; and what is its intended programme of meetings for the coming year. [11290]

Mr. Hogg

The report of the CAP review group, which records the conclusions of its 11 independent members, was published on 26 July 1995. The report, which was circulated widely to politicians, academics and non-Governmental public bodies both here and throughout Europe, was instrumental in promoting a genuine debate on the future of the CAP. Copies of the report were placed in the House Library.

Mr. Robathan

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made to curb fraud within the CAP across the EU. [11275]

Mr. Baldry

The Government have fully supported Commission initiatives to introduce tough automatic penalties against those proved to have benefited from fraud.