§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report 1the total spent in the United Kingdom under the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guidance section of the European Economic Community budget in 1983 and in 1984; and if he will give particulars of the amounts spent on (a) limiting production and (b) increasing production.
§ Mr. Jopling[pursuant to his reply, 21 February 1985, c. 584]:Total payments in the United Kingdom from the guidance section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund in 1983 and 1984 were £88.2 million and £68.1 million, respectively. The only Community scheme operated in this country which is specifically intended to limit production is the non-marketing of milk premium scheme. EAGGF expenditure in the United Kingdom on this scheme in 1983 and 1984 was £14.4 million and £12.9 million, respectively, of which 40 per cent. was funded from the guidance section. The Community's agricultural structures policy is directed not to increasing production but to assisting the modernisation of farms, the continuation of farming in less-favoured areas and the improvement of marketing and processing of agricultural products.