§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Workington of 23 March,Official Report, column 863, if he will place in the Library all information he has had made available to him or his officials concerning the payment of subsidies both direct and indirect paid by national Governments and the European Commission to potato processors and producers in the European Community in the last three years.
§ Mr. CurryI am not aware that any information has been made available in the way the hon. Member suggests.
Under EC regulation 866/90 United Kingdom potato processors have been awarded £6 million in grants towards the capital cost of new investment over the three years 1991–93. Nationally financed grant of £l.2 million has also been made available in conjuction with the EC scheme. Similar information for other member states is not available.
Certain other assistance is also available to potato processors from Industry Departments in England, Scotland and Wales under a number of schemes.
566WUnited Kingdom potato producers may also benefit from the group marketing grant.
Since November 1991 the EC Commission has published in the C series of the Official Journal brief details of the state aids to which it has raised no objection. These include our own potato marketing scheme and are summarised as follows:
Aids to potato processors and producers in the EC
Denmark
- 1. 1988 Expenditure and 1990 Draft Budget for potato trade association funds. Adopted: 30 October 1991 Published: OJ C 18/8 of 24 January 1992
- 2. Aid for potato quality control. Adopted: 25 March 1992 Published: OJ C 155/7 of 20 June 1992
Italy
- 1. Aid to support the horticulture sector (potatoes). Adopted: 21 January 1992 Published: OJ C 185/6 of 22 July 1992
- 2. Special intervention by AIMA for new potatoes for consumption. Adopted: 31 August 1992 Published: OJ C 286/9 of 4 November 1992
- 3. AIMA national programme for private storage of potatoes for consumption 1992 marketing year. Adopted: 15 October 1992 Published: OJ C 316/6 of 3 December 1992
Luxembourg 1. Assistance to farmers suffering from natural disasters in 1991 (including potato producers). Adopted: 11 March 1992 Published: OJ C 185/6 of 22 July 1992
United Kingdom
- 1. 1991 Crop arrangements. Adopted: 29 October 1991 Published: OJ C 32/7 of 8 February 1992
- 2. 1992 Crop arrangements. Adopted: 16 July 1992 Published: OJ C 286/6 of 4 November 1992
During the 1992 season, France, Italy and Spain have provided assistance to their potato growers but we do not know the sums involved. In Great Britain, the Potato Marketing Board has operated the statutory guarantee arrangements. The cost to the Government is expected to be in the region of £1.5 million.