§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what money has been given by the European Union to finance environmentally sensitive areas for each year since 1992; and if he will break down the figures for each of the nations of the United Kingdom. [36457]
§ Mr. BoswellThe following sums were paid by the EU towards the UK's environmentally sensitive areas schemes:
£ thousands 1 January 1992 to 15 October 1992 16 October 1992 to 15 October 1993 16 October 1993 to 15 October 1994 16 October 1994 to date England — 4,150 4,404 9,689 Scotland 217 451 540 513 Wales 414 395 374 582 Northern Ireland 231 271 374 302 Total 862 5,267 5,692 11,086 The ESA schemes are funded under the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund. As part of the CAP reform, funding for these schemes switched in 1993 from the guidance section of the EAGGF, which reimbursed the UK annually in arrears, to guarantee funding, which funds expenditure in-year. In some cases, therefore, the total reimbursement relates to more than one year's expenditure.