§ Mr. Salmondasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of expenditure controlled by the Agricultural Departments is paid directly to producers; and if he will estimate what proportion of the total benefits of such spending accrues to (a) producers, (b) merchants and (c) processors.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe proportion of expenditure covered by the Supply Estimates (including administration costs) for the Agricultural Departments in 1986–87 which was paid directly to producers was of the order of 50 per cent. Other areas of expenditure such as that on animal disease, research, advice and education benefit producers although not paid directly to them. Some 15 per cent. of gross expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in 1986–87 on market regulation under the CAP was paid to producers under the variable premium schemes for beef and sheep. Most other IBAP payments are to processors and traders. It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the benefits of expenditure in terms of categories of beneficiaries.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost to the average British family with two children of support for agriculture in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the European Economic Community and world food prices.
§ Mr. MacGregorInformation on expenditure on agricultural support is not available in the form requested.