§ Mr. Marlowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will cause to be published a table showing his best estimates for each of the last three years for the cost and benefit of the common agricultural policy to each European Community country over and above budget contributions, bearing in mind the difference between European and world food or feed prices and assuming that those countries buying from other European countries at European prices could otherwise buy on the world market at the world prices then ruling.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1980, c. 458]; Estimates for other member States for 1977 and 139W 1978 will be found in the publication to which my right hon. Friend referred in his reply to my hon. Friend's question on 11 June; figures for 1979 are not yet available.
For the United Kingdom, the estimates for 1977, 1978 and 1979 on a comparable basis (ie without the adjustments mentioned in paragraph 33 of that publication) are a cost of £335 million, £275 million and £360 million respectively. However, for the reasons set out in my right hon. Friend's earlier reply, I do not regard it as realistic to assume that, in the absence of the CAP, we would purchase our imported supplies of milk products and sugar at world prices.
The estimates relate to commodities subject to variable import levies under the CAP.