HC Deb 30 June 1980 vol 987 cc455-6W
Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates his Department has made of the cost to the United Kingdom of buying current imports of the principal foodstuffs covered by the common agricultural policy from the cheapest available source.

Mr. Peter Walker

My Department has made no estimates of this cost to the United Kingdom and as the recent movement in sugar prices has shown such calculations can within a short period prove to be worthless.

Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what in the past year have been the cheapest sources on the world market of each of the principal foodstuffs covered by the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I do not have the detailed information necessary to provide an answer.

Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the difference between the cost to United Kingdom consumers of buying foodstuffs at current prices and the cost to them of buying such foodstuffs at third country offer prices, as used in the computation of EEC levels.

Mr. Peter Walker

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current third country offer prices for those EEC foodstuffs in surplus currently imported into the United Kingdom; and what are their current EEC price levels.

Mr. Peter Walker

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.