§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish in the Official Report the estimate she has made in calculating the cost of EEC membership of the cost to consumers of the CAP for pigmeat and pigmeat products in 1974 and 1975 to date.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe latest estimate of the effect of membership on food prices, which shows that membership is at present having no significant effect overall, takes into account the effect of Community-financed subsidies as well as levies and duties. In the first quarter of 1975 membership was responsible for a slight overall reduction in prices. There was no significant effect on the retail price of pork, and a slight increase in the price of pigmeat products.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish in the Official Report the estimate she has made in calculating the cost of EEC membership of the cost to United Kingdom consumers and the taxpayer, respectively, of the CAP for dairy products in 1974 and in 1975 to date.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe latest estimate of the effect of membership on food prices, which shows that membership is at present having no significant effect overall, takes into account the effect of Community-financed subsidies as well as levies and duties. In the first quarter of382W 1975 membership was responsible for a slight overall reduction in prices. This was because cereals and sugar prices were lower as a result of membership although those of dairy products were somewhat higher. The cost to the taxpayer is of the Community budget as a whole, not of individual programmes. As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury pointed out in reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) on 16th May—[Vol. 892, c. 189–90]—in the first four months of this year the United Kingdom's receipts from the Community budget amounted to £49 million more than our contribution.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish in the Official Report the estimate she has made in calculating the cost of EEC membership to consumers of the CAP for fruit and various processed foodstuffs in 1974 and 1975 to date, taking into account the increase in tariffs since 31st December 1972 and the various arrangements for keeping up prices and restricting imports from Third countries.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe latest estimate of the effect of membership on food prices, which shows that membership is at present having no significant effect overall, takes into account the effect of Community-financed subsidies as well as levies and duties. In the first quarter of 1975 membership was responsible for a slight overall reduction in prices. There was no significant effect on the retail price of fresh fruit, and an increase in the price of certain processed foodstuffs.