Employers' organ support Labour over Common Market

Britain's entry into the Common Market will lead to sharp increases in food prices unless the Six agree to adjust their existing fam policye This warning was given in the latest issue of the Confederation of British Industry's fortnightly journal, The -uthor, whose views are not necessarily endorsed by the C.B,I, appears to doubt the wisdom of the Conservative Party's approach to nembership of the sixe He points out that, while Mre Wilson has emphasised that British entry depends on the readiness of the Connon Market countries to adjust their comnon farn policy to acconodate British and Commonwealth interests, Mr. Heath has "proposed that Britain should adopt the same farn financing system as is used by the Six," The article continues: "It would appear that the Labour Party is demanding a greater flexibility on the part of the Six than the Conservatives expects ~ Considering the tine and energy-the Six expended in thrashing out their ~ connon policy, it nay well be that the Conservatives estinate is the right onee What, however, would be the effects of British entry with little or no adjustnent to allow for our intersts? Food prices in the shops would riseee.eEstinates of how nuch this (Common Market) systen would add to Britain's food bill vary from 300 million to $400 million - in fact it is impossible to set a ceiling, since the Six have still not settled the internal prices of all foodstuffs that night be affected. "It is certain, however, that the housewife would pay nore for her food purchases, and, if she realised how nuch, night becore anxious about ite" The article adds that British farners are nore aware of what entry would entail, They are worried and "surprised" that the Conservative Party should have apparently accepted the E.EeC. farm policy without conditions at this stage. It continues: "They feel that the Six have nade big concessions to each other in evolving the farn policy and, if they really wished for British entry, they could be expected to make concessions to Britaing They ask also how British farning can be required to make the contribution expected of it in the National Plan if farners have no guarantee which would enable then to plan ahead, as is possible under the present British systen with its annual reviewse"