HC Deb 28 July 1982 vol 28 cc517-8W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list expenditure incurred in aiding the rural areas by agencies for which he is responsible in each year since May 1979.

Mr. Peter Walker

Of the executive non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible, the central council for agricultural and horticultural co-operation encourages and promotes co-operation in agriculture and horticulture in the United Kingdom. The expenditure incurred by the council for this work in recent years is as follows:

(£'000)
1979–80 1,170
1980–81 1,818
1981–82* 1,880
* (provisional)

The council also administers on behalf of the United Kingdom agricultural departments a scheme of grants to co-operatives in respect of certain items of capital and non-capital expenditure.