§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be consulting the farming industry on his proposals to implement the discretionary aspects of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. [93602]
§ Mr. Nick BrownThe reform of the CAP decided at the Berlin European Council introduced a number of policy areas where member states were given discretion as to whether and/or how they would be applied. In the information notes I circulated to the farming industry and other interested parties following that agreement I undertook to consult widely on the Government's plans would be set in the context of an overall strategy for agriculture which takes into account the need for a competitive, flexible and environmentally friendly industry, which is responsive to consumer wishes and which contributes to the social and economic strengths of rural areas.
I intend accordingly to write to interested parties including farming industry representatives in the coming weeks setting out my ideas for such a strategy and how the discretionary aspects of the reformed CAP should be applied in this country to help set a new direction for the industry. My Department will also be conducting a series of regional consultants. Members of Parliament will be sent a copy of the consultation documents individually. We will consider responses carefully and announce final decisions during the Autumn.
Comparable action is being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.