§ 23. Mr. Meacherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the average British manual worker spends weekly on food according to the latest information; and what would the same food budget cost if purchased at present average Common Market prices.
§ Mr. MeacherIs the right lion. Gentleman aware that the Independent Trade Policy Research Centre has recently established that under the Common Market variable import levy policy the poorest quarter of the population will have to pay 12½ per cent. of final total support costs and receive back only 11 per cent. of income, while the richest quarter of the population will pay 32 per cent. of cost and get back 43 per cent. of income? Does he not realise that redistribution on this scale from the poor to the rich cannot possibly be compensated for by 232 family income supplement or the proposed tax credit scheme? What is he doing to stop this sell-out of the poor?
§ Mr. PriorManual workers will share in the general advantages which United Kingdom entry into the EEC will bring. Secondly, we have always made provision for social security payments to help. Thirdly, the figures put out by this organisation are not necessarily those that I would accept.