HC Deb 06 December 1988 vol 143 cc118-9W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total cost of the European Economic Community free food scheme in the United Kingdom in terms of(a) the cost of foodstuffs, (b) the administration and distribution costs incurred by the voluntary sector and (c) any other costs.

Mr. Ryder

A total of £10.4 million was allocated to the United Kingdom to operate the free food scheme in 1988. The figure of 2½ per cent. has been set aside to cover distribution costs and to reimburse the administration costs of designated organisations. The remainder has been released or will have been made available by the end of the year to designated organisations in the form of butter and beef. Other costs such as packing and canning will be met by payment in kind arrangements.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will estimate the number of people receiving food stuffs under the European Economic Community free food scheme;

(2) if he will estimate the number of people eligible in the United Kingdom to receive foodstuffs under the free food scheme.

Mr. Ryder

The Government have estimated that about 6 million people in the United Kingdom are eligible to receive food under the scheme. The designated organisations are responsible for the distribution arrangements, and they estimated early this year that about 1½million people would benefit.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of each of the surplus European Economic Community food products is being made available for distribution in Britain as part of the free food scheme.

Mr. Ryder

In the United Kingdom the designated organisations have been authorised to withdraw 2,463 tonnes of butter and 1,772 tonnes of beef.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the criteria for eligibility to the European Economic Community free food scheme.

Mr. Ryder

The Community legislation enables food from intervention stocks to be distributed to the most deprived persons in the Community. The Government

Belgium Luxem-bourg Nether-lands France Spain Portugal Greece Italy United Kingdom Denmark Germany Ireland
By issue of voucher x — — — — x — — — — — x
Through soup kitchen — — x — x — — — — — — x
Through hospitals, orphanages, old people's homes etc. — — — — — — x — — — — —
Via charity networks — x — x x — — x x x x —
Attempts to define the "most needy" x x — — x — — — x — x x