§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the increase in incomes of farmers in terms of constant prices in 1979 and in the latest available year compared with the average of 1967 to 1971 together with the increase in the direct and indirect cost of agricultural support to the consumer/taxpayer.
§ Mr. MellorThe table shows United Kingdom aggregate farm income, and public expenditure in support of agriculture in the United Kingdom. Agricultural market support through the CAP means that EC consumers pay more for their food than they would do in a free market. The estimated cost to United Kingdom consumer, based on work by the OECD, is given in the table. All figures are in constant 1985 prices.
502W
Year Farm income (£mittion) Public expenditure (£million) Estimated consumer cost (£million) 11967–71 2,555 1,481 nil 1979 1,956 1,130 3,000 1989 1,242 1,033 4,600 21990 972 1,469 5,400 Notes:
1Average.
2 Forecast.
Figures for public expenditure relate to the financial year beginning in the year shown.
Consumer cost is based on OECD estimates of the cost to EC consumers scaled down to relect the United Kingdom share of consumption.
Aggregate farm income is defined in chapter 6 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990, HMSO, 1991.
Public expenditure in support of agriculture is defined in chapter 9 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990. It includes the cost of market support reimbursed by the EC; and excludes indirect support for agriculture such as free or subsidised advisory services and research and development.