§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate was made by the Commission of the savings to common agricultural policy costs in 1986 of transferring to member states one quarter of the costs of surplus food storage and of reducing the interest payments made to member states for their interim financing of such storage costs, respectively.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The Commission has estimated that the reductions agreed by the Council in payments for intervention storage and financing will reduce Community expenditure by 208 mecu and 92 mecu respectively in 1986.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made by the Commission of the cost of the European Economic Community's agricultural activities in 1986 in consequence of the 1986 price review; what was the figure for 1985; and what is the level of expenditure permitted under the strict budgetary controls agreed in December 1984, disregarding the factor of any allowances which can be made under this agreement for exceptional or aberrant circumstances.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The Commission has estimated that in 1986 expenditure relating to agricultural support, for which there is provision of 21,012 mecu in the budget, will be 491W reduced by 320 mecu as a result of the prices agreement. Also the Council at the same time agreed economy measures which should save 300 mecu on the funding of intervention stocks. The Commission has stated, however, that these savings will be outweighed by the effects of currency changes and that a supplementary budget will therefore be required, although it is unclear what extra level of provision will be sought. Guarantee section expenditure in 1985, excluding fisheries, was 19,728 mecu. The maximum level of expenditure in 1986 indicated by the financial guideline, including provision for Spain and Portugal, is 21,186 mecu.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made of the additional cost to United Kingdom national expenditure of the parts of the 1986 farm price review package which permit national Governments to make extra provision for small cereal producers and for beneficiaries of the milk outgoers scheme and which oblige national Governments to pay a share of the costs of surplus storage and to reduce the interest payments on moneys provided by the Intervention Board for such storage, respectively.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The aid for small cereal producers agreed as part of the 1986 farm price package will be fully funded from the Community budget. It is too early to say whether any national topping up of the Community payments under the Community milk quota buy-up scheme will be necessary.
The decision to reduce Community reimbursement of financing and technical costs of intervention storage is expected to be broadly neutral in terms of United Kingdom Exchequer expenditure, as the reduction in United Kingdom receipts will be offset by lower contributions to the Community budget.