HC Deb 04 April 1979 vol 965 cc880-1W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the likely increase in farm gate prices in each of the member States of the EEC which could devalue their green currency and who did so; and if he has estimated the consequent likely increase in production of each of the various commodities, particularly those already in surplus in the EEC.

Mr. Bishop

It is not possible to estimate the precise effect on farm gate prices in each of the member States concerned of the green currency devaluations which are brought into effect by decisions in the Council at the end of March. The effect on CAP support prices, however, is to increase them by the following percentages:

  • United Kingdom—5.3.
  • Italy—5.3.
  • Republic of Ireland—0.3.
  • France—5.4 for all commodities except pig-meat, and 7.0 for pigmeat.

The consequences of these increases on production will depend on a number of variable factors including the rate at which farmers' costs are increasing and I am not able to make any reliable estimates.