HC Deb 28 April 1986 vol 96 cc679-80 4.35 pm
Mr. Eric Deakins (Walthamstow)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,

the 1986 common agricultural policy price settlement, about which we have just had a statement.

The matter is specific because we have just had the statement, and it is important for six reasons. First, the settlement has been described by an impartial news organ, Agra Europ, as a "price debacle". Secondly, the settlement will do little to stem the rising tide of CAP expenditure, especially on cereals. Thirdly, total spending will exceed the budget guidelines. The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has admitted that. That is serious because the Government's agreement to increase the VAT limit last year was based on the quid pro quo of financial guidelines being strictly enforced. The Government's faith is now shown to be completely unjustified.

Fourthly, CAP spending is completely out of control. The settlement will breach the barriers of the financial guidelines, which are now shown, in the Minister's words, to be worthless, because he has said that they cannot take account of extraneous factors such as currency movements, and there are currency movements every month. Fifthly, the settlement will require another supplementary budget on top of an existing supplementary budget, despite assurances given to the House by Ministers. That budget will increase the United Kingdom's financial contributions to the EEC and ensure that the VAT ceiling will be raised to 1.6 per cent. at the earliest opportunity.

Finally, the settlement will undermine the important constitutional case currently before the European Court in Strasbourg, whereby the Council is disputing the Assembly's right to increase budget spending, because the Assembly's case was shown to have been proven by the fact that the Council's budget last year did not take agricultural spending fully into account.

The matter is urgent, first, because the statement has not given the House a full chance to express its total opposition to and concern about the implications of the package before decisions are implemented. We heard from the Minister that a meeting is going on today. Secondly, it is not a fit subject for an Adjournment debate. Finally, perhaps to anticipate something that you may have said on previous occasions, Mr. Speaker, in applications under Standing Order No. 10, the precedents in 1983, 1984 and 1985 are that after the announcement of the agricultural price settlement there was no subsequent debate on CAP pricing.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,

the 1986 CAP price settlement. I have listened carefully to the exchanges in the House and I fully appreciate the concern which the hon. Gentleman has expressed and the importance of the subject. Nevertheless, he knows that I have to take into account the business before the House and whether this should have precedence over that. I regret that I do not consider that the matter that he has raised is appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 10. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.

Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton)

In view of the time and the fact that many hon. Members wish to debate the British Shipbuilders (Borrowing Powers) Bill, I shall write to you, Mr. Speaker, on the subject. It is a matter of importance, but I do not wish to delay the debate.

Mr. Speaker

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman.

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