§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 20 December 1990,Official Report, column 296, on CAP expenditure, if he will state the total net cost to the Exchequer of support for agriculture and the common agricultural policy, after deducting any relevant refunds and grants received; and if he will also show the amount per head of the population of the United Kingdom which this net figure represents.
§ Mr. CurryThe total figures, and the equivalent per head of United Kingdom population, which my hon. Friend has requested, are as follows:
Estimate for 1990–91 Total (£ million) £/head Exchequer expenditure on the common agricultural policy in the United Kingdom 1,900 33 Receipts from the European Community in the relation to agriculture 1,600 28 Total Exchequer expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies in the United Kingdom (EC and national) 1,950 34 Cost to the Exchequer of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the total Community budget (all EC expenditure including agriculture) 2,100 37 It would be misleading to net off EC receipts in relation to agriculture from Exchequer expenditure on the CAP, because the United Kingdom is a net contributor to the EC budget. It is not possible, for the reasons given in the previous reply, to estimate the cost of the United Kingdom's contribution to agricultural expenditure elsewhere in the Community.