HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc53-4W
Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will calculate the impact on the cost of food to consumers arising from the CAP since 1973. [157376]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 6 April 2001]: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publishes an estimate annually of the transfers made by consumers in the European Union as a whole resulting from agricultural policies in the Union. Estimates of the impact of the CAP upon consumers are dependent upon the assumptions made concerning the policy which would have operated in the absence of the CAP.

The table sets out the OECD estimates for the years 1986 to 1999. Estimates for earlier years are not readily available.

Total transfers from EU consumers arising as a result of the CAP
Year Billion ecu/euro
1986 69.1
1987 64.6
1988 62.7
1989 49.2
1990 71.5
1991 79.5
1992 63.2
1993 59.9
1994 59.3
1995 55.1
1996 45.3
1997 50.5
1998 60.8
1999 61.9

Source:

OECD Producer and Consumer Support Estimates Database