John asked a question in the House to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the debate on the Common Agricultural Policy on 26 June 2003.

Mr. John Battle (Leeds, West): My right hon. Friend deserves our thanks and congratulations for her tireless, detailed and sustained negotiating efforts-often out of the public eye-to bring about the achievement of real reform of the CAP. She will agree that general subsidies and, perhaps more importantly, dumping massively undermine developing countries' capacity to develop their own agriculture. Are any positive, alternative and supportive proposals to help small farming businesses in Britain, the EU and developing countries part of the new package? Such a strategic approach might help to create a new CAP that would contribute to the delivery of international trade justice.

Margaret Beckett: One of the things that we hope to do-we have begun this already in the UK on the back of the Curry commission proposals-is to offer marketing advice and support, as well as more general advice and support for people working together, whether in formal co-operatives or otherwise, to maximise their market opportunities. Such help and support is valued more widely.
My hon. Friend asked about general subsidies and dumping. He is right; this is a matter of great concern. I hope Opposition Members will not mind me saying, in all sincerity, that no matter how great their wish is to kick the Government by saying that this is not much of a deal, I hope that when they leave here they will say that the EU has moved a long way, even though they think it has not done nearly enough. It is now up to others.

If we are honest, the EU has taken a much bolder stance in the negotiations than anyone would have anticipated. There is little point in doing that if it does not force others participating in the development round on to the back foot, forcing them to look again at what they do. There is perhaps not as fair a balance as there should be in some of the existing Harbinson proposals. It is time for those such as the Cairns group and the United States-they will be absolutely astonished at this package-to realise that it is up to them to look at what they do, as well. If we all move together, that will be of real benefit to the developing world.