§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sources of funding the Government have made available to develop the marketing potential of producer groups; what is the forecast value of expenditure on producer marketing grants by 1992 and for each of the next three years; and by what means producer groups qualify for funding.
§ Mr. GummerThe current scheme for developing the marketing potential of producer groups is the group marketing grant introduced in April 1992. Expenditure is continuing under the closed agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme and EC regulation 1035/72 aid to producer groups.
Awards under the group marketing grant worth £552,000 were made during the first financial year, 1992–93, of the scheme. Expenditure in 1992–93 and provision for the following three years are as follows:
£'000 Financial year Group marketing grant Expenditure under closed schemes 1992–93 expenditure 21 1,232 1993–94 provision 1,720 859 1994–95 2,938 280 1995–96 3,544 179 The conditions attached to the group marketing grant are set out in the brochure, copies of which are in the Library.