§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
What contribution the Common Agricultural Policy of the E.E.C. has made to the price of bread and bacon in the United Kingdom.
§ LORD JACQUESIncreased use of soft wheat, including purchases from the Community at lower prices than if the United Kingdom had not been a member, has helped to contain the rise in bread prices. Our imports of bacon have also benefited from subsidies financed by FEOGA and our charges on non-E.E.C. bacon have generally been lower than they would have been with our former import duties.
§ LORD O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they will be able to decide whether to advise the British people to remain in the E.E.C. if Government Departments are unable to calculate precisely the rise in the price of each basic foodstuff which has resulted from our membership of the E.E.C.
§ LORD JACQUESThe overall effect on retail food prices resulting from our membership of the E.E.C. is of greater importance to the British people than the precise increase in an individual foodstuff. Moreover, there are many difficulties in calculating precisely the rise for each basic food which has resulted from our membership of the E.E.C. These include knowing accurately what world and United Kingdom market prices would have been if we had remained outside. In view of the uncertainties attaching to estimates for individual foodstuffs, it is considered that the overall effect on retail food prices provides the most reliable indicator.