§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each rendering firm, the amounts due to them under the rendering industry support scheme for each year in the period 1995 to 2000. [614]
§ Mr. RookerRendering industry support schemes have been introduced for 1996–97 and 1997–98. Total expenditure for 1996–97 is estimated at about £100 million, with a provision of up to £59 million for 1997–98. As at 21 May about £90 million had been paid to renderers for 1996–97. No money had yet been paid in respect of 1997–98.
Individual companies' entitlements to support for the whole of 1996–97 have yet to be finally determined. Under the 1997–98 scheme, support payments depend on eligible renderers' production profile during the year. Entitlements for the year as a whole will therefore not be known until after the scheme ends.
I am unable to disclose information about the support which has to date been paid to individual renderers for reasons of their commercial confidentiality (exemption 13 in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information).