§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of support per 521W British cow and bull since 1980 both in constant and current prices, identifying the proportion of that support met by public funds; and if he will estimate the proportion of that support directly translated into farm incomes.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonDirect support for beef breeding cows in the United Kingdom is provided under two schemes: the suckler cow premium scheme and, in the less favoured areas, the hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme. Rates of payment are shown in table 1. These payments are made directly to producers and form part of farm income. There are no direct payments in relation to dairy cows.
Table 1 PQ 3446 Rates of payment under the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance: £ per eligible cow Suckler Cow Premium (1) Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance (1) Severely dis-advantaged land in LFA Disadvantaged land in LFA Scheme year Current prices at constant 1988–89 values (2) Current prices at constant 1988–89 value (2) Current prices at constant 1988–89 values (2) 1979 — — 29.0 54.1 — — 1980 12.37 19.5 35.0 55.1 — — 1981 12.37 17.8 42.5 61.1 — — 1982 12.37 16.6 44.5 59.7 — — 1983 12.37 15.8 44.5 57.0 — — 1984 24.74 30.1 44.5 54.2 — — 1985 24.74 28.6 44.5 51.5 22.25 25.7 1986 24.74 27.7 54.5 61.0 27.25 30.5 1987 33.40 35.5 54.5 57.9 27.25 29.0 1988 33.40 33.4 54.5 54.5 27.25 27.2 — denotes no scheme in operation.
(1) The proportion of eligible expenditure financed directly by the United Kingdom exchequer is 75 per cent. for the hill livestock compensatory allowance but has varied between nil and around 55 per cent. over the period in the case of suckler cow premia. In both cases, the remainder is financed from the European Community funds to which the United Kingdom contributes.
(2) Rates of payment in current prices adjusted to 1988–89 purchasing power using the GDP deflator for financal years.
Table 2 Public expenditure on beef, veal and milk products: beef, veal and milk production: United Kingdom Public expenditure (£ million) Financial year beef and veal1 milk products Calendar year Beaf and veal production ('000 tonnes) Output of milk for human consumption (mill litres) current prices at constant2 1988–89 values current prices at constant2 1988–89 values 1980–81 132 207 218 343 1980 1,096 15,340 1981–82 42 60 190 273 1981 1,039 15,237 1982–83 95 127 360 483 1982 980 16,093 1983–84 273 350 570 730 1983 1,044 16,590 1984–85 352 429 263 321 1984 1,136 16,592 1985–86 332 384 356 412 1985 1,123 15,420 1986–87 232 259 300 335 1986 1,046 15,631 1987–88 204 217 302 321 31987 1,077 14,741 1988–893 164 164 153 153 1988 n/a n/a 1 Excludes hill livestock compensatory allowances and suckler pig premia. 2 Expenditures at current prices adjusted to 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator. 3 Forecast.