§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the implications for the CAP budget of Commissioner Schreyer' s statement on additional financing in respect of BSE on 31 January; [148760]
(2) what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the CAP of the imbalance in the EU beef market resulting from BSE. [148764]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Commission's initial estimate of the cost of the measures agreed at the December Agriculture Council was 971 million euro. We understand that the Commission will be proposing further measures to the February Agriculture Council, which will now take place on 26/27 February. We do not yet know what the Commission will propose but welcome the fact that it recognises the need to constrain total CAP expenditure within the ceilings set out in the current financial perspective.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals the Government have made to ensure that the cost of the CAP remains within the Berlin financing perspectives following recent changes in demand in the EU. [148761]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Commission is responsible for making proposals. The UK Government support the Commission's intention to propose a package of measures before the February Council which ensure that total CAP expenditure remains within the ceilings set out in the current financial perspective.