§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportions of agricultural expenditure in the United Kingdom were financed by the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom Government in 1980; and what are the estimates for 1981.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerIn 1980–81 receipts from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund are expected to be about 55 per cent. of expenditure in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy and on national grants and subsidies. I regret that the corresponding estimate for 1981–82 is not readily available.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for the United Kingdom Government expenditure on agriculture as a percentage of total Government expenditure, tax revenue and gross domestic product for 1980 and the forecasts for 1981.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI must point out that such comparisons are totally misleading, because the change between the two years is accentuated by increases in the three items named; decreases in agricultural expenditure due mainly to lower provision in 1981–82 for certain market-determined support schemes; and the fact that no provision has been made for a continuance of the higher rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances, which will be reviewed again in autumn 1981.
Subject to those major qualifications, the figures for United Kingdom Government expenditure on agriculture as a percentage of those three items are given below. They are based on the estimated outturn for 1980–81 and provision for 1981–82, both as shown in the 1981–82 Supply Estimates, and are net of receipts from the European Community.
266W
1980–1981 per cent. 1981–82 per cent. (a) Total Government expenditure 0.8 0.6 (b) Tax revenue 0.9 0.6 (c) Gross domestic product 0.3 0.2