§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the overall financial cost of the common agricultural policy to the United Kingdom in 1981, and for each year since 1978.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerWe contribute to the cost of the European Community Budget as a whole and not to the 35W common agricultural policy separately. Information on our gross and net contribution is contained in pages 6–8 of the recent White Paper on the Government Expenditure Plans (Cmnd. 8494).
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail his latest proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy and quantify the effect they will have on the United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 17 November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Parris) on the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting on 16 November. The proposals which we have advanced or supported are designed to reduce the cost of the common agricultural policy to the Community Budget and the United Kingdom's contribution.