asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will compare the budgeted expenditure for the common agricultural policy for the current year as set out by the financial mechanism with the actual common agricultural policy expenditure for each of the previous four calendar years, using the current year's budget as 100, comparisons being made on the basis of European currency units.

The financial guideline does not apply to the 1985 budget. The expenditure outturn under the common agricultural policy for the years 1981 to 1984, taking the provision in the 1985 budget as 100 was as follows: