§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further proposals she has to reform the Common Agricultural Policy. [129064]
§ Mr. BradshawOn 26 June EU Agriculture Ministers agreed a radical reform of most elements of the Common Agricultural Policy. The UK Government is pressing for similar radical reform of the remaining sectors, which include the sugar, olive oil, cotton and tobacco regimes and we are pleased that the European Commission intends to bring forward proposals in the next few months.
We are consulting on how we should implement the reforms already agreed so that we can introduce the new scheme from 1 January 2005, the earliest date permitted.