§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the expenditure committed to support the agricultural industry as a result of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis, and the proportion of such expenditure which derives form the European Union; [3394]
(2) if he will list, by sector, the expenditure committed as a result of the BSE crisis, separately identifying that paid to (a) abattoirs, (b) the rendering industry, (c) collection centres and (d) farmers direct; [3395]
(3) if he will list (a) the methods by which compensation has been directed to farmers as a result of the BSE crisis, (b) the level of expenditure under these headings and (c) the amount of each expenditure item that is recoverable from the European Union.[3396]
§ Mr. BoswellI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 July,Official Report, column 533. Subsequent to that reply, additional expenditure has been agreed as follows: 180W
Approximately £160 million from EU funds for direct support to UK beef producers. Over £100 million has already been disbursed through supplementary payments to the beef special premium and suckler cow premium schemes and through the beef marketing payments scheme.Some £89 million from national funds for direct support to UK beef producers. £60 million of this sum has ben earmarked for distribution to eligible cattle producers under the 1997 hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme.£16.6 million for extra cold storage capacity to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting slaughter under the over-30 month scheme.A detailed breakdown of the latest BSE expenditure forecasts will be given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's forthcoming Budget statement.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact of the BSE crisis on prices paid to farmers for beef cattle. [2451]
§ Mr. BoswellMarket prices for finished beef cattle in England and Wales have fallen by 15 per cent. to 20 per cent. since the middle of March. There have been greater price reductions for some store cattle and calves. These developments are likely to be attributable to a number of factors, some of them of a seasonal nature. It is not possible separately to identify the impact of BSE. Intervention purchases and measures announced by the Government have had the effect of limiting the extent of price reductions in the beef market and the impact on producers.