HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 cc1475-6W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an estimate of the impact on average British food bills of eliminating state intervention in European agriculture; and if he will make a statement. [35130]

Mr. Baldry

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 9 March 1995, Official Report, column 328.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was(a) the total number of employees of the Intervention Board and (b) the cost for each of the last five years. [34735]

Mr. Baldry

I have asked the chief executive of the Intervention Board to reply direct.

Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 July 1995: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about (a) the total number of employees of the Intervention Board and (b) the cost for each of the last five years as this matter is within my operational responsibility. The total number of employees and pay bill costs are published in the Departmental Report for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The figures are as follows and include the cost of overtime and casual staff:

Period Total Number of Employees (Staff Years-Fulltime Equivalent) Pay Bill Costs (£ million)
1990–91 997 12
1991–92 1,030 14
1992–93 1,049 16
1993–94 1,006 17
1994–95 989 17