§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish, on the same basis as the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 14 May 1984, Official Report, columns 55–56, the net cost to the Exchequer of agricultural support as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year since 1960–61 and projections for 1987–88 and 1988–89;
Financial year Expenditure on Agricultural Support Gross Domestic Product at Current Market Prices (c) as a Percentage of (d) Gross (b) Net (c) (d) (e) 1960–61 263 26,180 1.01 1961–62 343 27,732 1.24 1962–63 310 29,106 1.07 1963–64 294 31,137 0.94 1964–65 264 34,102 0.77 1965–66 237 36,401 0.65 1966–67 229 38,918 0.59 1967–68 262 41,155 0.64 1968–69 269 44,616 0.60 1969–70 281 47,717 0.59 1970–71 257 52,839 0.49 1971–72 323 59,460 0.54 1972–73 267 266 66,958 0.40 1973–74 392 315 74,604 0.42 1974–75 495 325 89,242 0.36 1975–76 512 248 111,866 0.22 1976–77 378 198 130,615 0.15 1977–78 460 271 151,248 0.18 1978–79 538 209 172,495 0.12 1979–80 677 265 206,294 0.13 1980–81 1,012 406 237,046 0.17 1981–82 972 230 259,296 0.09 1982–83 1,432 609 283,583 0.29 1983–84 1,714 493 305,108 0.16 1984–85 1,706 502 324,894 0.15 1985–86 2,160 878 360,000 0.24 1986–87 (Forecast) 1,577 246 380,000 0.06 1987–88 (Forecast) 1,899 510 407,000 0.13 1988–89 (Forecast) 2,028 605 431,000 0.14 Sources:
(b) and (c) 1960–61 to 1986–87 Annual Review White Papers (Years 1982–83 to 1984–85 subject to correction)
1987–88 to 1988–89 The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90 (Cm 56-II)
(d) 1960–61 to 1984–85 CSO Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1986 Edition
1985–86 and 1986–87 Autumn Statement (Cm 14)
1987–88 and 1988–89 Table 2.5 of Financial Statement and Budget Report 1986–87 (HoC No. 273)