§ Mr. Marlowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the increased cost of the common agriculture policy in the forthcoming year; what proportion of this cost, under present arrangements, will be borne by the United Kingdom; and if he has any proposals to reduce this amount.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe 1982 budget provision for the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund is 14.5 billion ecu—£7.6 billion. The Commission considers that it should be possible to finance its price proposals within this total if present market conditions are maintained. My aim is to reduce surplus production and contain the cost of the common agricultural policy. As I have pointed out before, the United Kingdom contributes to the budget as a whole.
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