§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 3 April, if he has made any estimate of the amount by which the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Economic Community budget will be reduced by the European Economic Community price review; which European Economic Community nations will be required to pay the £596 million additional cost of the price 388W settlement in a full year; and if he will publish a table showing how the extra budgetary cost of £596 million will be shared between Community members.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerAs I have previously indicated, the recent price settlement together with the EMS realignment will slightly reduce the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget. All member States will contribute towards and share in the net extra expenditure, but the Commission has not provided details for each country.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the European Community price review is likely to increase or reduce the structural surpluses of the common agricultural policy.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe average institutional price increase is broadly similar to the expected rate of inflation in the Community and in my view is unlikely to add to structural surpluses.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he made of any additional or reduced costs of the disposal of surplus foodstuffs in stating that the additional budgetary cost of the European Economic Community price review would be £596 million.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe figure of £596 million for the net cost to FEOGA in a full year of the agricultural price settlement together with the EMS realignment represents the Commission's estimate of 1096 mecu converted at £1 = 1.84 ecu, which is approximately the new sterling central rate. The Commission has not stated how much of the total relates to the cost of disposal of surplus foodstuffs.