Common Agricultural Policy

HC Deb 21 May 1981 vol 5 c130W

22. Mr. Moate

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are his proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Peter Walker

Within the framework of a common policy geared to sustaining a healthy and efficient agriculture I want to see greater attention paid to the needs of the market and action taken both to tackle the problem of surplus production, particularly in the milk sector, and to contain the growth of guarantee expenditure.

26. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the current British contribution to the common agricultural policy of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Peter Walker

Expenditure on the common agricultural policy accounts for 69 per cent. of the 1981 Community budget as compared with 80 per cent. in 1978. The United Kingdom contributes to the financing of the budget as a whole. Information on our gross and net contributions is contained in pages 34–38 of the White Paper on the Government expenditure plans—Cmnd. 8175.