HC Deb 03 July 1979 vol 969 cc537-8W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (1) how expenditure on the EEC common agricultural policy compares with that on the social fund over each of the last five years; (2) what proportion of payments

European Agricultural Guidance & Guarantee Fund Social Fund
Guarantee Section Guidance Section Total
1974 … … … 3,277.9 128.4 3,406.3 237.5
1975 … … … 4,321.4 184.3 5,005.7 136.3
1976 … … 5,365.0 218.2 5,583.2 256.3
1977 … … … 6,166.8 296.7 6,463.5 325.2
1978 … … … 8,672.8 428.5 9,101.3 536.3
Notes:
(1) Figures for 1974–77 taken from 1977 Court of Auditors report, and are in million units of account.
(2) Figures for 1978 taken from preliminary draft budget for 1980, and are in million European units of account.
(3) Some of the expenditure under the guidance section relates to budget commitments in earlier Years.

As regards the remainder of the question, some of the measures financed under the guidance section of the EAGGF are directed at least in part to social objectives. But it is not possible to distinguish between expenditure on agricultural and on social support, because political and social factors have clearly influenced the Council in setting the agricultural support

requirements. The Government do not intend to finance operating losses.