HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 cc1248-9W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total Government expenditure on agriculture was in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each total required payments under the Common Agricultural Policy. [155889]

Alun Michael

Total public expenditure on agriculture and EU receipts under the CAP over the past five years are provided in the table. The increase in expenditure in 2001–02 was due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Financial year Total public

expenditure

on agriculture

£million

 EU receipts

under the

CAP

£million

 EU receipts

under the

CAP as a

proportion of

total public

expenditure

on agriculture

Percentage
April 1998 to 31 March 1999 3,482 2,941.7 84.5
April 1999 to 31 March 2000 3,161 2,674.4 84.6
April 2000 to 31 March 2001 3,042 2,534.8 83.3
April 2001 to 31 March 2002 4,663.9 2,320.3 49.75
April 2002 to 31 March 2003 3,119.2 2,619.2 84
Source:
The total public expenditure figures provided in the table have

been taken from the relevant Agriculture in the United Kingdom

publications and the EU receipts from the relevant Annual Report

and Accounts of the Intervention Board and Rural Payments

Agency (founded October 2001).