Common Agricultural Policy

HC Deb 24 October 1994 vol 248 cc415-6W

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now publish figures for how much the United Kingdom contribution to the common agricultural policy costs the average British family per week.

Mr. Jack

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 15 March,Official Report column 601–2.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current estimate of the cost of the common agricultural policy in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and what was the cost in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1993.

Mr. Jack

The Commission has proposed a supplementary and amending budget for 1994 which would reduce the common agricultural policy budget from 36,465 mecu—£28,143 million— to 34,787 mecu—£26,848 million. The 1995 draft budget has been set at the level of the agricultural guideline of 36,994 mecu—£29,056 million. Expenditure in 1992 and 1993 was 32,109 mecu—£22,722 million—and 35,095 mecu—£27,571 million—respectively.