John Redwood

|

John Redwood question to the Prime Minister on African trade

Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham): When will the EU member states sit down tohammer out a thoroughgoing reform of the common agricultural policy? Iamglad that the Prime Minister agrees that the way in which it preventsfairtrade for African countries is a moral outrage. Is it not time for himtoget his colleagues to do something about it?

The Prime Minister: Those discussions continue the entire time. Therighthon. Gentleman knows which interests are blocking reform. However, wehaveat least a better chance of achieving reform with the enlargement of theEuropean Union, because if the common agricultural policy is notreformedat that stage the payments will be unacceptable. The United Kingdom,Germany and other countries are leading the charge on this; we mustensurethat we overcome substantial resistance elsewhere. It will take sometime,but that is what we will try to do.