§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Prime Minister if, on the same basis as the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 16 March 1987,Official Report, columns 425–26, she will show the cost of agricultural support for each year since 1960 at 1988–89 prices, and in real terms; and how much has been paid out, at 1988–89 prices and in real terms to (a) the motor industry, (b) the coal industry, (c) the steel industry, (d) the shipbuilding industry and (e) the aircraft industry; and if she will also show the total amount paid to industry as a whole for each year since 1960.
§ The Prime MinisterThe table sets out the public expenditure cost of supporting agriculture as compared with the public expenditure cost of support to manufacturing industry over the period since 1977. The presentation is not identical with that on previous occasions. Because many industrial support schemes, such as support for innovation, operate across industries, disaggregation into individual industries is not possible. However estimates are made by the Central Statistical Office for manufacturing, mining and construction taken as a whole. These figures have been set alongside comparable figures for agriculture, forestry and fishing. Data prior to 1977 are not available on a consistent basis because of changes in industrial classifications. On these figures, support for agriculture as a proportion of its 637W contribution to value added is about 20 times that provided to manufacturing industry. The figures for support to agriculture in the United Kingdom relate solely
General government expenditure on Gross domestic product arising from General government expend as percentage of GDP in each sector Agriculture forestry and fishing 1Manufacturing Agriculture forestry and fishing 1Manufacturing Agriculture forestry and fishing 1Manufacturing £ million £ million £ million £ million Per cent. Per cent. 1977 1,059 1,582 3,353 45,892 31.6 3.4 1978 1,121 2,051 3,590 52,795 31.2 3.9 1979 1,163 2,487 3,922 59,448 29.7 4.2 1980 1,633 2,683 4,303 65,170 38.0 4.1 1981 1,688 3,467 4,837 66,972 34.9 5.2 1982 2,000 2,766 5,530 72,555 36.2 3.8 1983 2,472 2,662 5,365 76,985 46.1 3.5 1984 2,194 2,423 6,222 83,108 35.3 2.9 1985 2,725 2,265 5,627 91,457 48.4 2.5 1986 2,397 1,856 5,902 99,172 40.6 1.9 1 Including mining and mineral resources and construction. Source: United Kingdom National Accounts 1987 (CSO). Tables 2.1 and 9.4.