EU reform worth 18 a person to UK
12 January 1999
EU reform worth £18 a person to UK
REFORM of European Union farm subsidies would cut annual household food bills by £18 a person, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said yesterday.
Mr Brown told yesterdays “farm summit” in London that the reforms, due to be adopted in late March, would be good for consumers, taxpayers and farmers.
Mr Brown said he would be sending a questionnaire to farmers seeking views on the proposals and the Governments response.
British farmers get about £3 billion in European subsidies a year, costing about £3 per person per week in higher food prices and £1 per week in extra taxes.
The proposed reforms would cut guaranteed prices for beef, cereals and milk by up to 30%.
Farmers would be partly compensated by an increase in cash payments linked to farm size.
- Brown future means more paperwork for farmers, FWi, yesterday (11 January, 1999)
- NFU stance on subsidy reform, FWi, yesterday (11 January, 1999)
- European Parliament opens with farming agenda, FWi, yesterday (11 January, 1999)
- The Times 12/01/99 page 8
- Financial Times 12/01/99 page 12 (News Digest)