asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will use every means possible to have the EC Commission's decision to cut beef price supports for exports by 8 per cent reviewed on the grounds that it will discourage beef sales to non-EC countries and encourage sales into intervention.
Written Answers. - Beef Price Supports.
19.
The recent decision to reduce the export refunds on beef was a decision by the Commission of the European Communities on a matter falling within that body's competence. A recent strengthening in the world market price may have been among the reasons for the reduction.
The reduction does not change the position of our exporters on EC markets. or exporters who are in competition with other EC exporters to third country markets. There is as yet no evidence that they have lost markets anywhere to other exporters in consequence of the reduction. I shall be watching developments in this regard very carefully.
Sales of beef into intervention have been running at a high level both before and since the reduction of the export refunds.