PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2002
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
Mr David Drew | Mr Keith Simpson
|
Mr Michael Jack | Paddy Tipping
|
Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Mark Todd
|
Diana Organ | |
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report [The Future of UK Agriculture in
a changing world], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and
read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 49 read and agreed to.
A paragraph-(Mr Austin Mitchell)-brought up
and read as follows:
"When Britain entered what was then the Common
Market in 1972 the problems of adjustment were substantial and
in many respects the CAP proved less appropriate to British needs
than to those of the six who had devised it to suit their own
purposes. Agricultural protectionism is less appropriate to a
net food importer, farming for subsidy has distorted production
in directions less appropriate to British climate and conditions,
food prices have been consistently higher than those available
on world markets, and once the Common Agricultural Policy was
no longer priced in a common currency, the emerging gap between
the rising Pound and the falling Euro penalised British farmers.
All British political parties have regularly committed themselves
to fundamental reform but the only reforms achieved have been
those acceptable to the interests of agricultural producer nations
and particularly to France and Germany. The CAP does not fit as
easily on Britain as it does on those who developed it."
Question put, That the paragraph be read a second
time.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 2 | Noes, 3
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Michael Jack
|
Mr Austin Mitchell | Diana Organ
|
| Paddy Tipping |
Paragraphs 50 to 280 read and agreed to.
A paragraph-(Mr David Drew)-brought up and
read as follows:
"Given the past false dawns in terms of reform
of the CAP it is important that the Government has an alternative
approach which recognises that British agricultural policy could
be renationalised. This would mean that the CAP should either
be scrapped or downgraded to provide only a multinational framework
leaving detailed consideration of policy formulation to the Governments
of the nationstates. This would give back power in areas
such as bringing greater equilibrium between supply and demand
at national level, more opportunity for intervention to influence
prices and more openings to enhance the rural economy. Earlier
failings in panEuropeanism could be overcome by developing
national envelopes restoring the emphasis upon farming as a public
good."
Question put, That the paragraph be read a second
time.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 2 | Noes, 4
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Michael Jack
|
Mr Austin Mitchell | Diana Organ
|
| Paddy Tipping |
| Mr Mark Todd |
Paragraph 281 read and agreed to.
Summary read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Chairman
do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions
of Standing Order No. 134 (Select committee (reports)) be applied
to the Report.
Ordered, That the Appendices
to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Disposal of Refrigerators
Sub-committee be reported to the House.
Several Memoranda were ordered to be reported to
the House.
The Committee further deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 23
October at half-past Nine o'clock.
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