§ 20. Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the United Kingdom's(a) gross and (b) net contribution to the common agricultural policy for the year 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [12629]
§ Mr. RookerThe United Kingdom contributes to the EU budget as a whole, and not to any particular part. The draft budget for 1998 is set at 84.7 becu (£55.9 billion), of which the CAP accounts for 41.0 becu (£27.1 billion). The 1999 budget will not be prepared until next spring. Actual expenditure will depend on various factors, including the weather, trade flows and decisions to be taken by the Council of Ministers, and cannot be predicted.
§ 22. Mr. PondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made for reforming the common agricultural policy to provide greater value to consumers. [12631]
§ Mr. RookerThe Government favour a more market-oriented Common Agricultural Policy through the phasing out of production related support. The European Commission agrees with our view, and has proposed reform of the cereals, beef and dairy regimes in that direction as part of its Agenda 2000 package. If the Commission's estimated reductions in market prices feed through fully to retail, total savings to consumers in the UK would be around £1 billion—equivalent to 2 per cent. of the retail food prices index.