§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate Her Majesty's Government have made of the effect the common agricultural policy has had on the United Kingdom's international competitiveness for each year since the United Kingdom's membership of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. LawsonAny estimate of the effect of the common agricultural policy on competitiveness would require wholly hypothetical assumptions about the type of agricultural policy the United Kingdom would otherwise have pursued.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates the common 34W agricultural policy has had on the balance of payments for each year since the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. LawsonEstimates of the budgetary and non-budgetary transfer effects of the common agricultural policy on the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1977 and 1978 were given in Government Economic Service working paper 27, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 12 August 1980. In 1979 the net effect, measured by import levies, is estimated to have been some £1,100 million. Estimates for 1980 and 1981 are not yet available, but the effects will be greatly reduced by the special arrangements to reduce the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget. Estimates for years prior to 1977 are not available.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any civil servant has responsibility for quantifying the implications of membership of the European Economic Community on the domestic economy; and, if more than one, how many.
§ Mr. LawsonNone, in the terms stated. The economic aspects of United Kingdom membership of the EC are considered by a number of civil servants as an integral part of their other duties.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect membership of the Europen Economic Community has had on the United Kingdom's gross national product and gross domestic product for each year since accession.
§ Mr. LawsonThere is no way of determining what our GNP—or GDP—would have been if we had not joined the EEC.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will publish any papers prepared by it quantifying the effects of British membership of the European Economic Community on the national economy or part of it.
§ Mr. LawsonNo.