HC Deb 08 July 1982 vol 27 cc443-4
7. Mr. Proctor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on his attempts to reform the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Peter Walker

I continue to seek improvements in the operation of the common agricultural policy designed to tackle the problem of surpluses, restrain the growth of expenditure and ensure fair competition within the Community.

Mr. Proctor

After three years of Conservative Administration and attempts to reform the CAP, does my right hon. Friend now agree that, because of the power balances in the EEC, it is not possible to get a fundamental reform of the CAP?

Mr. Walker

No, Sir, I do not agree. During those three years the growth in expenditure has been 26 per cent. compared with 260 per cent. under the Labour Government, and the proportion of CAP benefits going to Britain has doubled.

Mr. Hardy

Does the Minister accept that whatever hopes he may entertain are likely to be confounded and that whatever admirable efforts he may make are likely to meet disappointment, not least as a consequence of the recent Community majority decision? Can he yet tell the House how much the subsidy and structure of agriculture will dominate the EEC budget in the ensuing 12 months?

Mr. Walker

I cannot give the exact forecast for the next 12 months. During the past three years the proportion of the budget devoted to the CAP has declined considerably.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Would it not be regrettable if reform of the CAP resulted in Europe becoming a food deficiency area?

Mr. Walker

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Buchan

That would hardly be reform of the common agricultural policy. Will the Minister listen to the wise words of his hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Proctor)? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that this year's settlement marked the final destruction of any attempt or hope to reform the common agricultural policy in any sensible way? Does he further agree that the near surrender point was overcome by events when majority voting took place? Has not the time come for us to operate a policy suitable for British farming and the British consumer without the nonsense of high prices, surpluses, export levies and the other bureaucratic paraphernalia of the Common Market?

Mr. Walker

I am glad that the views of the farming industry are in complete conflict with those of the hon. Gentleman. The farming industry is increasingly recognising, particularly with the reversal of the Labour Government's green pound policy, the considerably enhanced opportunities for exports and growth in the British economy.