§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement for the forecast level of the ewe premium for 2001; [18207]
(2) what assessment she has made of (a) the future of the European Union's sheepmeat regime and (b) the prospects for the United Kingdom's sheep and lamb industry; and if she will make a statement on the Council of Ministers meeting on 20 November. [18204]
§ Mr. MorleyThe European Commission has made forecasts of the final rate of the ewe premium during the course of the year to enable advances of the premium to1088W be paid; its most recent forecast is for a final rate of 10.779 euros. However, the final rate of the premium will not finally be determined until the average community market price for sheepmeat for the marketing year is known.
The European Commission has proposed a number of changes to the sheepmeat regime. These include replacement of the current deficiency-type premium calculation with a fixed rate premium of 21 euro with effect from 2002. The proposals were considered by the Agriculture Council on 20 November and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 690W.