§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the total amount of support for agriculture by the Government, expressed both as a percentage of gross domestic product and as a percentage of public expenditure for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984, and 1988.
§ Mr. MacGregorExpenditure by calendar year is not readily available. Figures for financial years are set out below.
The forecast of spending on agriculture in 1988–89 was revised for the autumn statement.
Expenditure on agricultural support in the United Kingdom £ million Per cent. GDP Per cent. Public expenditure 1960–61 263 1.01 2.77 1970–71 257 0.49 1.19 1979–80 677 0.33 0.75 1984–85 1,706 0.53 1.12 11988–89 1,500 0.33 0.8 1 Forecast. Expenditure relates to payments made direct to farmers or traders; it does not include related expenditure such as disease prevention, advice, research and development, land drainage and administration.