HC Deb 12 November 1981 vol 12 c182W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the net value of imports, less exports, of common agriculture policy food and agricultural products traded between the United Kingdom and other European Economic Community countries over the cumulative period of the last three years; and if he will estimate for the same period the reduction in cost to the consumer if those net imports had been purchased on the world market at prices then prevailing.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The cumulative value of United Kingdom imports, less exports, from the European Economic Community of the main products subject to the common agricultural policy for the three years 1978 to 1980 is £2,650.7 million. Any estimate of the reduction in cost to the consumer, if these imports had been purchased on world markets, is a subject suitable only for conjecture.