Agricultural Support (Hansard, 26 March 1991)

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total of moneys received from the European Economic Community, in connection with agricultural support, subsidies or intervention payments of any kind, in each year since accession; and what has been the net cost of agricultural support, both national and Community, after allowing for the moneys received from the European Economic Community.

§ Mr. Curry
The total of European Community receipts in relation to agriculture, and total United Kingdom expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies, for the period requested is shown in the table.

Financial year Expenditure on agriculture support Gross domestic product at current market prices (1989–90) (a) As a percentage of (c)

Actual (a) £m Real terms (b) £m (c) £m

1960–61 263 27 26,277 1.000

1961–62 343 36 27,686 1.240

1962–63 310 34 29,067 1.070

1963–64 294 33 31,358 .940

1964–65 264 31 34,200 .770

1965–66 237 29 36,605 .650

1966–67 229 29 38,852 .590

1967–68 262 35 41,196 .640

1968–69 269 37 44,647 .600

1969–70 281 41 47,962 .590

1970–71 273 43 53,180 .510

1971–72 323 56 59,276 .540

1972–73 267 50 67,589 .400

1973–74 392 78 75,006 .520

1974–75 495 118 89,376 .550

1975–76 512 153 111,210 .460

1976–77 378 128 130,070 .290

1977–78 460 177 151,431 .300

1978–79 538 229 173,762 .310

1979–80 677 338 208,644 .320

1980–81 1,012 597 237,798 .430

374W

Year Total receipts from the EC in relation to agriculture Total Exchequer expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies in the United Kingdom (EC and national)

(£ million)

1973–74 80 390

1974–75 170 490

1975–76 260 510

1976–77 180 380

1977–78 190 460

1978–79 330 540

1979–80 410 680

1980–81 610 1,010

1981–82 740 970

1982–83 810 1,430

1983–84 1,200 1,730

1984–85 1,200 1,710

1985–86 1,280 2,170

1986–87 1,480 1,450

1987–88 1,130 1,630

1988–89 1,600 1,380

1989–90 1,230 1,260

1990–91 1,620 1,960

It would be misleading to net these receipts off the expenditure because the United Kingdom is a large net contributor to the Community budget and the receipts are in effect fully funded by the Exchequer.

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was(a) the overall cost and (b) the net cost to the Exchequer of support to United Kingdom agriculture in each year from 1960 to 1990 in actual and real terms; and if he will show each set of figures as a percentage of the gross domestic product.

§ Mr. Curry
The gross cost to the Exchequer of all agricultural support for each year from 1960–61 to 1989–90 is given in the table. The cost is also shown in real terms. It would be misleading to show the cost net of EC receipts because the United Kingdom is a large net contributor to the Community budget and the receipts are in effect fully funded by the Exchequer. The table also shows the cost of support as a percentage of gross domestic product.
375W

Financial year Expenditure on agriculture support Gross domestic product at current market prices (1989–90) (a) As a percentage of (c)

Actual (a) £m Real terms (b) £m (c) £m

1981–82 972 629 260,950 .370

1982–83 1,433 993 285,691 .500

1983–84 1,729 1,253 309,788 .560

1984–85 1,712 1,304 331,873 .520

1985–86 2,165 1,741 362,876 .600

1986–87 1,449 1,204 390,732 .370

1987–88 1,630 1,428 431,984 .380

1988–89 1,380 1,299 480,635 .290

1989–90 1,258 1,258 518,671 .240

Sources: (a) and (b) 1960–61 to 1985–86 Annual Reviews of White Papers.
1986–87 to 1989–90 Agriculture in the United Kingdom.
(c) 1960–61 to 1989–90 CSO Economic Trends 1989–90.

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing (a) the amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy and by national grants and subsidies

£ million

Amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the CAP and by national grants and subsidies¹ Gross domestic product² Expenditure on agricultural support as a percentage of the gross domestic product

1960–61 260 26,277 0.99

1970–71 270 53,180 0.51

1980–81 1,010 237,798 0.43

1981–82 970 260,950 0.37

1982–83 1,430 285,691 0.50

1983–84 1,730 309,788 0.56

1984–85 1,710 331,873 0.51

1985–86 2,170 362,876 0.60

1986–87 1,450 390,732 0.37

1987–88 1,630 431,984 0.38

1988–89 1,380 480,635 0.29

1989–90 1,260 518,671 0.24

1990–91 Forecast 1,960 547,000 0.36

Sources:
¹1960–61 to 1986–87: Annual Review White Papers.
1987–88 to 1990–91: Agriculture In The UK.
²1960–61 to 1984–85: C.S.O. Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1991 Edition.
1985–86 to 1989–90: C.S.O. Press Notice—CSO (91) 37–15 March 1991.
1990–91: Financial Statement of the Budget Report 1991.

Financial year	Expenditure on agriculture support	Gross domestic product at current market prices (1989–90)	(a) As a percentage of (c)
	Actual (a) £m	Real terms (b) £m	(c) £m
1960–61	263	27	26,277	1.000
1961–62	343	36	27,686	1.240
1962–63	310	34	29,067	1.070
1963–64	294	33	31,358	.940
1964–65	264	31	34,200	.770
1965–66	237	29	36,605	.650
1966–67	229	29	38,852	.590
1967–68	262	35	41,196	.640
1968–69	269	37	44,647	.600
1969–70	281	41	47,962	.590
1970–71	273	43	53,180	.510
1971–72	323	56	59,276	.540
1972–73	267	50	67,589	.400
1973–74	392	78	75,006	.520
1974–75	495	118	89,376	.550
1975–76	512	153	111,210	.460
1976–77	378	128	130,070	.290
1977–78	460	177	151,431	.300
1978–79	538	229	173,762	.310
1979–80	677	338	208,644	.320
1980–81	1,012	597	237,798	.430

Year	Total receipts from the EC in relation to agriculture	Total Exchequer expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies in the United Kingdom (EC and national)
		(£ million)
1973–74	80	390
1974–75	170	490
1975–76	260	510
1976–77	180	380
1977–78	190	460
1978–79	330	540
1979–80	410	680
1980–81	610	1,010
1981–82	740	970
1982–83	810	1,430
1983–84	1,200	1,730
1984–85	1,200	1,710
1985–86	1,280	2,170
1986–87	1,480	1,450
1987–88	1,130	1,630
1988–89	1,600	1,380
1989–90	1,230	1,260
1990–91	1,620	1,960

£ million
	Amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the CAP and by national grants and subsidies¹	Gross domestic product²	Expenditure on agricultural support as a percentage of the gross domestic product
1960–61	260	26,277	0.99
1970–71	270	53,180	0.51
1980–81	1,010	237,798	0.43
1981–82	970	260,950	0.37
1982–83	1,430	285,691	0.50
1983–84	1,730	309,788	0.56
1984–85	1,710	331,873	0.51
1985–86	2,170	362,876	0.60
1986–87	1,450	390,732	0.37
1987–88	1,630	431,984	0.38
1988–89	1,380	480,635	0.29
1989–90	1,260	518,671	0.24
1990–91 Forecast	1,960	547,000	0.36