§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the EU budget is spent on(a) agriculture support, (b) the Social Fund and (c) the Regional Fund. [26106]
§ Ruth KellyThe latest published outturn figures for total payments made from the General Budget of the European Communities relate to 2000. However, these do not include a breakdown of structural spending by instrument.
In the financial year 2000 agricultural expenditure (EAGGF Guarantee section) amounted to 40.4 billion euro and constituted approximately 48.4 per cent. of total payments.
In 2000 approximately 27.6 billion euro, or 33.1 per cent. of total payments, was spent on Category 2 (structural operations) which includes both the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.