§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support is available within the structure of the common agriculture policy for the growing of any crop from which cannabis may be obtained; what was spent on such support in 1979; what countries were the principal producers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithSince 1970 a Community subsidy has been available for flax and hemp grown for fibre production. The subsidy is a payment per hectare grown. Hemp is grown in France and to a small extent in Italy and Germany; the total area is about 10,000 hectares and the budgetary provision for 1979 was 2.2 million European units of account. There is also a subsidy on the production of hemp seed for sowing which cost 01 million EUA in 1978–79.
I am advised that the extraction of cannabis from the varieties of hemp grown for fibre in the Community would be difficult. It would in any case be subject to the penalties laid down in the national legislation of the country concerned.