To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy to press for the introduction of sheep quotas within the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

Sheep quotas would create major administrative problems both on introduction and subsequently. They would inhibit improvements in the efficiency of the industry and would stifle the development of more market-oriented production. A reduction in the level of price support remains by far the best approach to reform of the CAP sheepmeat sector.