§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total available sum available under the EU surplus food scheme; what was his Department's budget in advertising the scheme; and how much grant was finally used. [105661]
§ Ms QuinThe last year that the UK participated in the EU surplus food scheme was 1998 when the sum made available to the UK for the distribution of surplus beef was £20.3 million. No separate Departmental budget allocation was made for advertising the scheme; expenditure for advertising the scheme was made available from overall Intervention Board funds. The funds allocated to the UK by the EU for the surplus food scheme were fully utilised.