HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 c432W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing in respect of the most recent year for which figures are available the assistance given to the agriculture industry in(a) European Economic Community aids, (b) national Government aids, (c) price enhancement caused by import levies and intervention, (d) export rebates and (e) other aids; and if he will also provide an indication of total aids of a comparable nature by the United States of America.

Mr. Curry

Estimates prepared by OECD, recomputed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on a per capita basis, of the transfers from taxpayers and consumers associated with agricultural policies in the European Community and the United States of America in 1989 are shown in the table. The estimates are based on many assumptions. The authors note that the estimates are static ones, taking no account of the effect that a reduction in assistance would have on world prices and thus on the magnitude of the transfers.

prices are respected. United Kingdom Ministers have been pressing hard for this issue to be resolved quickly and my right hon. Friend will strongly urge the Commission to make a satisfactory statement at the forthcoming Council of Agriculture Ministers.