78 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the measures, if any, he proposes to take to maintain area aid payments to cereal and oil seed farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8394/97]

As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 267 on 11 March 1997, I opposed the EU Commission's proposal last year to cut arable aid payments in the context of the beef crisis. It is my intention to resist also the reduction in arable aid which has recently been proposed.