§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the estimate published in "The Challenge to Agriculture," published in February 1988, of the cost of the common agricultural policy to the average family; how the original figure was arrived at: what changes have occurred since; and for what reason.
§ Mr. RyderThe estimate in "The Challenge to Agriculture" of February 1988 was quoted from "The Political Economy of International Agricultural Reform," Department of Primary Industry, Australia, 1986. It was intended as an example of one particular attempt to quantify the cost of agriculture support policies to European families. The estimate referred to the cost to each non-farm family in Europe of transfers by consumers and taxpayers to EC farmers, and included domestic agriculture programmes of member states as well as the CAP. A new estimate, based on changes that have occurred since, would involve taking account of agricultural policies in each member state and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.