§ Q18. Sir C. Osborneasked the Prime Minister on what basis his economic advisers estimate that the cost to Britain's balance of payments would be £250 million on account of dearer food as a consequence of Britain joining the Common Market; what increase in the cost of living he estimates this would cause; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not possible to make a definitive assessment of the effect that membership of the Community would have on the cost of food imports, but calculations based on decisions so far taken under the Community's agricultural programme suggest that the figure could on certain assumptions be of this order.