Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation

HC Deb 26 April 1978 vol 948 cc551-2W

Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the sources of income of the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation, showing the amount of each source for the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78, the total administrative cost of each of these years, and the total disbursements as grants in these two years.

Mr. Bishop

The Central Council received funds to meet the cost of its administration and operations from the Agriculture Ministers; any receipts from other sources are surrendered to the Exchequer. I refer the hon. Member to the accounts of the Central Council which are published as an Appendix to the Appropriation Accounts. The provisional figure of expenditure for 1977–78 is £879,983.

Grants paid under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme 1971 and EEC Regulation 1035/72 amounted to £815,293 in 1976–77 and the provisional figure for 1977–78 is £876,538.