§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the food consumed in the UK is organically produced; and what estimate he has made of the amount that will be so produced in 2006. [118573]
§ Mr. MorleyPrecise information is not available. We estimate the share of organic food in the overall UK market as in the order of 5 per cent.
We have made no estimate for future years.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of money paid under the Common Agricultural Policy to organic farmers in the EU; and what percentage this represents of the total CAP spend. [118577]
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets other EU member states have set for organic farming. [118574]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information available is not complete but we understand that Austria, Denmark, Finland, France and Sweden have set targets for the conversion of agricultural land to organic farming. In addition several of the German Bundesländer have set such targets. These targets range from 3 per cent. to 10 per cent. of agricultural land.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money his Department has spent on research into(a) organic farming, (b) biotechnology and genetic modification and (c) all areas of agriculture, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [118568]
337W
§ Ms QuinMAFF spending in these areas over the last five years, is shown in the tables. The figures for 1999–2000 are provisional.
(a) Organic farming Year £ million 1995–96 0.931 1996–97 1.116 1997–98 0.908 1998–99 1.481 1999–2000 (2.027) The organic farming sector also benefits from much of the other research the Ministry undertakes: for example, its planned spend of over £8 million in 1999–2000 on biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms.
(b) Biotechnology and genetic modification Year £ million 1995–96 20.09 199–97 22.94 1997–98 25.22 1998–99 28.91 1999–2000 (ca. 26)
(c) All areas of agriculture including organic farming, biotechnology and genetic modification Year £ million 1995–96 88.94 1996–97 87.14 1997–98 89.74 1998–99 90.58 1999–2000 (90.78)