Oil-seed Rape (Hansard, 17 June 1991)

§ Mr. Hardy
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the market for the expected harvest of the oil-seed rape crop this year; and what estimates he has made of the likelihood of a surplus.

§ Mr. Curry
There is crushing capacity for some 1.5 million tonnes of rape seed in the United Kingdom, and significant quantities of rape seed are also incorporated directly into animal feed. There is an export market for United Kingdom rape seed elsewhere in the European Community. It is too early to predict how the market for the 1991 crop will develop.

§ Mr. Hardy
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence there is that the production of oil-seed rape is injurious to the health of humans or to the ecological interest of the immediate locality.

§ Mr. Curry
In common with other agriculturally grown or naturally occurring vegetation, the pollen of oil-seed rape may affect some species, including human beings. However, I am not aware of any conclusive scientific evidence that this crop is injurious to the ecology of the immediate locality. Matters concerning human health are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Like any other crop, cross-pollinisation can occur and it is quite normal to protect crops by zoning where purity is needed.

Year Guarantee section¹ Guidance section Other CAP expenditure² Total expenditure on the CAP¹

mecu £ million mecu £ million mecu £ million mecu £ million

1985 19,728 11,601 690 406 52 31 20,470 12,037

1986 22,119 14,330 727 471 47 30 22,893 14,831

1987 22,950 16,508 863 621 32 23 23,845 17,152

1988 27,640 18,749 1,142 775 58 39 28,840 19,564

1989 25,849 16,925 1,349 883 49 32 27,247 17,840

1990 26,426 18,416 1,825 1,272 77 54 28,328 19,742

1991 33,326 23,225 2,011 1,401 363 253 35,701 24,879

1992 36,470 25,416 2,704 1,884 364 254 39,538 27,554

¹ Figures for 1991 and 1992 include 1,000 mecu monetary reserve (£697 million).

² Other agricultural expenditure comprises mainly 50 per cent. of set-aside (since 1989) and income aids (since 1991).

Sources:
1985 to 1990: Outturn figures.
1991: Budget.
1992: Preliminary draft budget.

Year	Guarantee section¹	Guidance section	Other CAP expenditure²	Total expenditure on the CAP¹
	mecu	£ million	mecu	£ million	mecu	£ million	mecu	£ million
1985	19,728	11,601	690	406	52	31	20,470	12,037
1986	22,119	14,330	727	471	47	30	22,893	14,831
1987	22,950	16,508	863	621	32	23	23,845	17,152
1988	27,640	18,749	1,142	775	58	39	28,840	19,564
1989	25,849	16,925	1,349	883	49	32	27,247	17,840
1990	26,426	18,416	1,825	1,272	77	54	28,328	19,742
1991	33,326	23,225	2,011	1,401	363	253	35,701	24,879
1992	36,470	25,416	2,704	1,884	364	254	39,538	27,554
¹ Figures for 1991 and 1992 include 1,000 mecu monetary reserve (£697 million).
² Other agricultural expenditure comprises mainly 50 per cent. of set-aside (since 1989) and income aids (since 1991).