§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the expenditure under European Communities budget line "B2—5122, Enhancing Public Awareness of the Common Agricultural Policy", in the United Kingdom; which organisations received funding for 1997; what role his Department played in determining the awards; and if he will make a statement. [36947]
§ Mr. RookerThe following organisations received funding under B2—5122
European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) and exchange programme for young farmers (PEJA)—1,000,000 ecu.Rural Women's Union/European Rural Women's Congress and other organisations of women working in the rural sector—400,000 ecu.Fund to promote organic agricultural methods in the European Union (IFOAM)—150,000 ecu.European Network of Alliances for Sustainable Agriculture (REPAS)—150,000 ecu.Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the EC (COPA)— 300,000 ecu.European Training and Promotion Centre for Farming and Rural Life (CEPFAR), International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), REFAR and CEDIA—800,000 ecu.Association of Agricultural Education in Europe (Europea)— 150,000 ecu.European Training Association for Farming and Rural Life (AEFPR)—300,000 ecu.Information for and training of workers, including participation in projects of the European Federation of Agricultural Workers' Unions within the Community (EFA)—650,000 ecu.Funding of an information service (rural counselling service). This also covers the helpline for the farming profession (`SOS countryside')—1,500,000 ecu.Other organisations pursuing the same aims, with particular emphasis on problem areas within Member States and the countries of central and eastern Europe—100,000 ecu.Responsibility for the administration and allocation of these funds under this budget line rests with the European Commission. This Department plays no part in determining awards.
The Government generally oppose use of EC funds for promotion. This is especially true of the Common Agricultural Policy, which they believe to be in need of fundamental reform and are opposed to any expenditure on promoting it in its current form.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to achieve the UK's objectives in the discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy. [37577]
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§ Mr. RookerThe Commission's proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy were presented to the Agriculture Council on 31 March. In most respects, these proposals go very much in the direction that the Government have advocated. The Government will progress discussion of them as far as possible during the UK Presidency and will thereafter seek to negotiate an outcome which reflects UK priorities.