Market matters
Sir: Mr Simon Harris argues that the EEC's agricultural policies are a success (Letters, July 20) and that if it weren't for the CAP we would all have to pay more. He is wrong.
If the open market price for foodstuffs is higher than the EEC price what are those thousands of bureaucrats doing defending us from them? If they are truly more expensive what are they frightened of? The discussion of food pricing is rendered deceitful by the pro-Marketeers' refusal to include the costs of subsidies in the true cost. If we all pay 20p for a pound of butter from the EEC in our shops and are taxed another 20p for the CAP supports, I would prefer to buy my New Zealand butter for 22p. Mr Harris concludes that we are tending towards food self-sufficiency in the EEC as though that were praiseworthy. Division of labour and skills should lead to interdependence ... not autarchy. The Common Marketeers would make more sense if they argued for greater freedom and more open markets. Must we rehearse the arguments against protectionism still? Peter Clarke 37 Upper Street, London Ni.
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