Common Agricultural Policy

Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further assessment, similar to that given in his reply to the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) on 8 July 1980, Official Report, column 139, of the extra cost to United Kingdom consumers of the common agricultural policy arrangements.

Mr. Peter Walker
The figure which I gave in the reply cited by my hon. Friend does in no way represent an assessment of the extra cost to United Kingdom consumers of the common agricultural policy arrangements. Any such assessment could only be conjectural since it would involve hypothetical assumptions about alternative arrangements for agricultural support.