§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the(a) Italian and (b) Spanish Governments in respect of the payment of EU penalties arising from the milk quota regime. [11710]
§ Mr. BaldryI have been asked to reply.
In line with the agreement reached in the October 1994 Economic and Finance Council meeting, Italy has to date paid about 1.4 becu, about £1 billion at current sterling-ecu exchange rate, and Spain 1.0 becu, about £0.7 billion, in penalties arising from their failure properly to implement the milk quota regime. Italy is due to pay approximately a further 0.5 becu, £0.4 billion, and Spain 0.3 becu, £0.2 billion, by the end of 1998 under the agreement.