Common Agricultural Policy (Hansard, 10 February 1981)

§ Q4. Mr. Latham
asked the Prime Minister what further proposals she will make at the next European Council to implement the Government's intentions regarding reform of the common agricultural policy of the European Economic Community; and whether she will make a statement.

§ The Prime Minister
It is too early to say what will be on the agenda for this meeting or what stage will by then have been reached in negotiations on farm prices and related matters.

§ Mr. Latham
Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the Government put as much determination behind refroming 740 the CAP as they did behind the successful renegotiation of the budget contribution? Does she agree that it is plain that the present system cannot continue for much longer?

§ The Prime Minister
I assure my hon. Friend that we shall devote all our vigour to reforming the common agricultural policy. It seems to us to be absurd to have a policy which builds ever-increasing surpluses which take ever-increasing proportions of the budget and of resources to produce food that we do not want and cannot eat.

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
Is the Prime Minister aware that we are honoured with a visit of a delegation from the People's Republic of China? It is not a laughing matter. Although I am not allowed to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the fact that they have not been in the Gallery, would she perhaps consider whether she could arrange a visit to China as soon as possible?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This was not an open question, but one of the questions on the Common Market.

§ Mr. Budgen
When my right hon. Friend goes to the European Council, will she take the opportunity to comment upon the interesting letter in The Times today by our distinguished colleague, Sir Fred Catherwood? In that letter he asserts, first, that the Euro-junkets such as we have read about recently are necessary and should continue. Secondly, he asserts that the EEC has a trade policy independent of the nation States within the EEC.

§ The Prime Minister
I cannot vouch for precisely what the letter in The Times says, but, if the sums which were reported as spent on overseas travel visits by Euro Members of Parliament were correct, it was gross extravagance.