§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what figures he based the claim, contained in the Economic Progress Report No. 194, February 1988, that agricultural support is costing the average European Economic Community family £550 per year; what the overall annual cost would be(a) in Britain and (b) in the European Economic Community as a whole, based on £550 per family of four; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Economic Progress Report article made it clear that the estimate of up to £550 a year in higher food prices together with higher levels of taxation was drawn from figures produced by the Australian Department of Primary Industry, published in the Political Economy of International Agricultural Policy Reform, Canberra 1986. The figure is broadly in line with the results of other studies. Figures for total costs borne by consumers and taxpayers in the United Kingdom or any other individual European Community country are not available. Whatever the difficulties of measurement, there are substantial costs to consumers and taxpayers. The Government's long-term strategy is to reduce these costs.