§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the subsidy and price support available to hill farming enterprises over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how they have varied in value at constant prices in relation to(a) farm input costs and (b) retail prices index over the same period.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 8 December 1993]: I estimate that the total direct subsidies paid on cattle and sheep in the less-favoured areas in 1994 will be about £550 million. The support available to individual hill farming enterprises will depend on the number of livestock on which subsidy is claimed as well as the rates of subsidy available. The figures in the following tables show the information requested for the direct livestock subsidies available to farmers. The subsidy rate are those available in the scheme years shown; different rules of eligibility apply and these may vary from year to year. Not all livestock will qualify for all schemes. Support is also available through intervention and other forms of market support, but it is not possible to apportion the effects of this to hill farmers.
Detailed information on 1991–92 net farm incomes for LFA livestock farms can be found in table 1.16 of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92", a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House.
63W
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Suckler Cow Premium1 Basic Rate 24.74 24.74 24.74 33.40 33.40 47.43 51.69 59.64 59.64 65.73 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 28.17 Beef Special Premium45 Basic Rate — — — — — 29.19 31.81 31.82 35.90 656.34 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 628.17 Average Variable Premium—pence/kg17 Dead weight8 15.85 15.71 16.33 17.71 15.87 18.09 — — — — Live weight 8.72 8.64 8.98 9.74 8.73 9.95 — — — — 1990 prices—deflated by Agricultural Input Prices Index Sheep Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances SDA Sheep (higher rate) 7.14 7.10 7.80 7.76 7.42 7.02 7.50 8.45 8.21 5.81 SDA Sheep (lower rate) 4.86 4.83 5.20 5.17 4.95 4.68 4.50 4.73 4.60 3.22 DA — 2.41 2.60 2.59 2.47 2.34 2.25 2.36 2.30 2.56 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme1 5.35 8.32 5.92 7.17 6.72 7.21 9.88 12.46 16.40 217.21 LFA supplement — — — — — — — 3.01 6.16 4.61 Average Variable Premium—pence/kg(dead weight)12 55.26 57.48 47.31 49.57 65.00 46.15 41.61 60.86 — — Beef Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances SDA 50.86 50.55 62.98 62.66 59.93 56.64 54.50 61.09 59.38 56.58 DA — 25.84 31.49 31.33 29.97 28.32 27.25 30.55 29.69 28.29 Suckler Cow Premium1 Basic Rate 28.27 28.10 28.59 38.40 36.73 49.30 51.69 57.56 55.95 58.75 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 25.18 Beef Special Premium45 Basic Rate — — — — — 30.34 31.81 30.71 33.68 650.36 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 625.18 Average Variable Premium—pence/kg17 Dead weight8 18.12 17.85 18.87 20.36 17.46 18.80 — — — — Live weight 9.97 9.82 10.38 11.20 9.60 10.34 — — — — 1990 prices—deflated by Retail Prices Index Sheep Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances SDA Sheep (higher rate) 8.84 8.34 8.70 8.36 7.97 7.39 7.50 8.27 7.97 5.72 SDA Sheep (lower rate) 6.01 5.67 5.80 5.57 5.31 4.93 4.50 4.63 4.46 3.17 DA — 2.83 2.90 2.79 2.66 2.46 2.25 2.32 2.23 2.52 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme1 6.62 9.77 6.60 7.73 7.21 7.60 9.88 12.20 15.92 216.94 LFA supplement — — — — — — — 2.95 5.99 4.54 Average Variable Premium—pence/kg(dead weight)13 68.41 67.50 52.80 53.37 69.76 48.60 41.61 59.59 — — Beef Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances SDA 62.96 59.37 70.28 67.47 64.32 59.66 54.50 59.82 57.66 55.70 DA — 30.35 35.14 33.74 32.16 29.83 27.25 29.91 28.83 27.85 Suckler Cow Premium1 Basic Rate 35.00 33.00 31.90 41.35 39.42 51.92 51.69 56.36 54.33 57.83 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 24.79 Beef Special Premium45 Basic Rate — — — — — 31.95 31.81 30.07 31.70 649.57 Extensification Premium — — — — — — — — — 624.79 Average Variable Premium—pence/kg17 Dead weight8 22.43 20.96 21.06 21.92 18.73 19.80 — — — — Live weight 12.34 11.53 11.58 12.06 10.30 10.89 — — — — 1 GB figures. 2 Based on Commission estimate made in November 1993 converted at current green rate. 3 Average of weekly rate. Sheep Variable Premium Scheme phased out in 1991. 4Figure each year up to 1992 as at December. 5 Beef Special Premium Scheme started 1st April 1989. 6 Full rate. Actual payments will be scaled back as regional ceilings have been exceeded. 7Average of weekly rate. Beef Variable Premium Scheme ended March 1989. 8 Assumes a killing out ratio of 0.55.