§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the savings in agricultural subsidies which would result from the United Kingdom's acceptance of the European Economic Community's common agricultural policy.
Mr. PearlAcceptance of the E.E.C.'s system would certainly involve the phasing out over a transitional period of our existing agricultural guarantees and deficiency payments; but the Community have not yet settled their criteria for allowing other forms of State aids to agriculture. It is not possible at this stage to give an estimate of the kind requested without making assumptions about the compatibility with the Common Market of the various farming grants and subsidies now payable.