HC Deb 25 January 1972 vol 829 cc382-4W
Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimate he has made of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom for 1971–72, together with comparable figures for the preceding year.

Mr. Prior

Following are the details of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1971–72 in the form adopted in Table 18 of the 1971

I. IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICE GUARANTEES
£ million
Latest Estimate of outturn 1971–72 Actual Outturn 1970–71
Cereals:
Wheat and rye 33.9 13.9
Barley 16.6 7.8
Oats and mixed corn 11.6 62.1 2.1 23.8
Potatoes 16.9 6.2
Eggs 5.7 9.3
Fatstock:
Cattle 4.5 31.0
Sheep 18.3 9.7
Pigs 25.5 48.3 7.5 48.2
Wool 7.2 6.1
Total I 140.2 93.6
Latest Estimate of Outturn 1971–72 Actual Outturn 1970–71
II. RELEVANT PRODUCTION GRANTS (OTHER THAN IV BELOW £ million
Calves 31.3 29.1
Beef cows 6.7 5.8
Hill cows 14.6 13.9
Hill sheep 9.5 9.0
Winter keep 5.1 5.1
Brucellosis Eradication Incentives 1.9 0.5
Fertilisers 35.7 40.9
Lime 5.0 5.0
Ploughing 0.3 0.3
Field beans 0.9
Field drainage (except tiling) 0.7 0.8
Small farmers 0.8 1.1
Farm business records 1.1 1.3
Crofting (cropping etc.) 0.5 0.5
Other 1.3 1.2
Total II 114.5 115.4
III. OTHER GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
Field drainage (tiling) 4.6 6.3
Water supply 0.6 0.5
Livestock rearing land 0.4 0.4
Hill land 2.4 2.2
Farm Capital Grants 18.5 0.3
Farm improvements 16.6 15.8
Farm structure 1.0 1.3
Investment incentives 21.3 15.0
Crofting improvements 0.3 0.3
Other 0.2 0.1
Total III 65.9 42.2
Totals I, II and II 320.6 251.2
Administrative expenses estimate 14.7 14.0
335.3 265.2
IV. OTHER SERVICES
Payment from U.K. Government for the benefit of agricultural producers in Northern Ireland 2.1 1.9
Payments in respect of agricultural training 1.9 1.9
Total estimated cost of agricultural support 339.3 269.0

Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 4623) together with comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1970–71