asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the retention of the beef variable premium scheme for 1985–86.

The Commission's original CAP price proposals for 1985–86 made no provision for continuation of the beef variable premium scheme. I made it clear however that I would insist on satisfactory provision for the scheme before I could agree to any final settlement, and I was accordingly pleased to see the premium covered in the latest compromise proposals discussed this week. I regret that agreement on this, as on other price fixing questions, has yet to be reached.