HC Deb 17 February 1983 vol 37 cc458-9
11. Mr. Proctor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps he proposes to take to seek to reform the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Peter Walker

The Government have already made good progress in improving the operation of the common agricultural policy, and I shall continue to seek improvements designed to tackle the problem of surpluses, restrain the growth of expenditure and ensure fair competition within the Community.

Mr. Proctor

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the European Community has exported 250,000 tonnes of wheat to Cuba at an export subsidy of between £50 and £60 a tonne? Does my right hon. Friend agree, on reflection, that his policy for the reform of the common agricultural policy could be typified by the expression "aggressive complacency"?

Mr. Walker

I have applied that term to my hon. Friend on many occasions. Since I have been responsible for the common agricultural policy, the proportion of the European budget going to the CAP has dropped from 80 to 65 per cent. The cost of the CAP, which increased by 210 per cent. under the previous Government, has increased by only 20 per cent. under this Government and the benefit to Britain from the CAP budget has doubled.

Mr. Maclennan

Does the Minister consider that during the period for which he has had responsibility for British agriculture the resources spent on the support of agricultural incomes has been excessive compared with that given by other developed industrial countries?

Mr. Walker

No, Sir.

Mr. Skinner

I am pleased that we gave the hon. Gentleman a free transfer.

Mr. Colin Shepherd

As the CAP has secured continuity of supply to the United Kingdom, and the increase in the food price index was only 1.9 per cent. during the past 12 months, is not the United Kingdom well served by the CAP?

Mr. Walker

Yes, Sir. I should have thought that at Question Time on this matter there would be some celebration of the fact that during the past year food prices have risen by a lower amount than at any time during the past 15 years.

Mr. Deakins

Is it not time that we stopped supporting the basic principles of the CAP and returned to a fair system for the consumer, the taxpayer and the farmer?

Mr. Walker

The hon. Gentleman will know that, whereas food prices have risen during the past 12 months by 1.9 per cent., the Minister of Agriculture in the Labour Government confirmed that food prices doubled under that Administration and that that was not due to the common agricultural policy.