§ Mr. John Carlisleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what capital and other grants have been paid to the co-operative sector of the agriculture industry since the enactment of the Agricultural Marketing Act.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn the financial year 1983–84, the Government provided about £3.8 million to Food from Britain, the national marketing organisation established by the Agricultural Marketing Act 1983. Of this sum, approximately £1.8 million was in respect of Food from Britain's statutory responsibilities in relation to the organisation, promotion, encouragement and development of agricultural co-operation. During the same period, 393W Government grants to co-operatives under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme amounted to just under £3.s8 million arising from projects recommended to Ministers by the co-operative development board of Food from Britain and the former Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation. Cooperatives received a further £1.5 million under various EEC schemes.