§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the impact of recent CAP reform proposals on farming in Staffordshire. [78340]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 24 March 1999]: The package of measures provisionally agreed in Brussels recently represents a good deal for farmers across the UK. Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the impact of the recent CAP reform proposals on (a) farming in Herefordshire and (b) potato cultivation. [78496]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The package of measures agreed at the European Council on 24–25 March represent real reform to the Common Agricultural Policy which UK farmers will benefit from.
There is currently no CAP regime for potato production and the agreement therefore has no direct implications for potato cultivation.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons reform of the sugar and the sheepmeat regimes was not included by the Council or the Commission in the latest CAP reform package. [79778]
§ Mr. RookerIt is regrettable that the Commission did not include proposals for reform of the sugar and sheepmeat regimes within the CAP reform package. The Commission put forward proposals for the main commodities in structural surplus on the EU market, i.e. cereals, beef and dairy, which it considered were most under threat from market developments; namely enlargement and the present and likely future commitments to the WTO.
During the negotiations the UK pressed for the sugar and sheepmeat regimes to be included in the package, and it continues to press for early reform. In the case of sugar the Commission are required to present proposals before the end of 2000. We believe that the case for early reform of the sheepmeat regime will be strengthened as a result of budgetary pressures arising from the knock-on effects of reforms agreed for the arable and beef sectors.
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