asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held by European Economic Community Foreign Ministers concerning the draft 1986 budget, with particular reference to the cost of storing food surpluses.

There has been no formal discussion of the draft 1986 budget in the Foreign Affairs Council. This is primarily a matter for the Budget Council.The cost of storing food surpluses is currently being discussed in the Agriculture Council in the context of the wider debate on the reform of the common agricultural policy.