HC Deb 08 November 1999 vol 337 c458W
Miss Geraldine Smith

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to reform the CAP. [95759]

Ms Quin

The Government pressed for a radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy throughout the Agenda 2000 negotiations. While the final agreement reached at Berlin in March this year did not go as far as we would have liked, the reforms did achieve very significant changes, bringing closer the UK objective of securing a competitive and sustainable agricultural industry with a stronger market orientation.

We will pursue opportunities created by anticipated market pressures, the reviews contained within the Agenda 2000 agreement and the existing commitment to reform the sugar regime by 2001 to push for the reform process started at Berlin to be completed.