The CAP saved a continent from starvation once and may do so again

YOUR columnist Steven King (April 30) repeats the error that 40% of the total EU spend is taken up by the CAP. This has gone uncontested for so long that correction is now essential.

And that is ignoring the fact that seldom, if ever, has a tax paid given such good value to those who paid it.

During the half-century of the CAP’s existence average industrial earnings have multiplied by 50; the retail cost of food by 16; the price paid to farmer by 8 and processing/retailing margins by 27. The farmer’s share of the retail price has dropped from 60% to 40%. An impressive performance from agriculture by any standard.