§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the high cost of the common agricultural policy prior to the introduction of the European Communities (Finance) Bill.
§ Mr. JackMy right hon. Friend is in regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on matters concerning the cost of the common agricultural policy.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications of the European Communities894W (Finance) Bill for the future of the common agricultural policy.
§ Mr. JackThe European Communities (Finance) Bill does not of itself have direct implications for the future of the common agricultural policy. CAP expenditure is constrained by the agricultural guideline, a legally binding ceiling. Its growth is restricted to 74 per cent. of the growth in EC GNP. As a result, CAP expenditure as a proportion of the total EC budget will continue to fall. It currently represents 50 per cent. of the total EC budget, as compared with 70 per cent. when the guideline was first introduced in 1988.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will place a copy of the European Commission report on reform of the common agricultural policy in the Library.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThis report, entitled "EC Agriculture in the 21st Century", has now been published in the Journal "European Economy" on behalf of the European Commission's Directorate-General II (Economy and Finance) Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.
I welcome the Commission's decision to publish this radical look at the common argriculture policy and shall be study it with interest.