§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 22 December 1983, Official Report, c. 372, if he will publish in the Official Report the best available estimate of the additional substantial cost to United Kingdom consumers of the common agricultural policy; and if he will list at the same time the uncertainties to which such an estimate is subject.
§ Mr. Ian StewartSo far as estimating the cost of the CAP to consumers is concerned, I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 22 December 1983.—[Vol. 51, c.372.] The principal uncertainty to which 292W any such estimate is subject arises from the assumptions which have to be made about what would be the level of world prices, and what arrangements for agricultural support might prevail in the United Kingdom in the absence of the CAP. There are also considerable technical difficulties in making any estimate.