§ Mr. StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the United Kingdom of membership of the common agricultural policy. [28403]
§ Mr. BaldryExchequer expenditure on the common agricultural policy reflects payments in the Untied Kingdom and contributions to expenditure in other member states through our net contribution to the EC budget. Our theoretical share of the cost of the CAP budget for 1996 would be around £3.6 billion after the Fontainebleau abatement is taken into account and assuming receipts estimated at £2.8 billion.
In addition the CAP imposes costs on consumers estimated for 1993 at some £3 per week per person. A note setting out the calculations of the costs to UK taxpayers and consumers has been placed in the Library of the House.