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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) for what reasons the UK is withdrawing from the International Organisation of Wine and Vine (OIV); and by what mechanisms UK wine growers will be represented on the OIV in future; [217522] (2) what assessment has been made of the benefits to the UK wine market of membership of the International Organisation of Wine and Vine; [217523] (3) what the cost to the UK of belonging to the International Organisation of Wine and Vine was in the last year for which figures are available. [217524] Alun Michael: The costs of the UK belonging to the International Organisation of Wine and Vine (OIV) have been variable and have depended on the number of proposals under consideration within the organisation, the degree of UK involvement, the resources attached to that involvement, as well as the level of annual membership fees that have been set. Where the OIV chooses to hold its meetings, for example France or Australia, will also affect the cost. In 2003-04, the latest year for which figures are available, the meetings attended by the UK were in Paris alone, and the costs estimated to be about £25,000. A cost benefit analysis of UK membership of OIV is not available but the UK's ability to produce, import and trade wine is not conditional on membership. Proposals emerging from OIV need to be implemented into European Community law in order to have practical effect in the UK, so our withdrawal from OIV will continue to ensure a consequence of reprioritisation of the Department's budgetary resources to focus public spending where it is most needed to meet Government objectives. The decision is we will not interfere with the UK continuing to play an active role in the development of European Community policy and legislation on wine and that the interests of the UK wine industry and consumers are fully represented at that level.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1439-40W;431 c1433-4W; 217522;217523;217524

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Agriculture Costs Membership Wines Common agricultural policy Viticulture International Organisation of Vine and Wine Grapes

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk