§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will deduct from the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU the cost of compensating the British farmers for measures to eradicate bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the event of the European Union not agreeing to pay such compensation. [24256]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe Council of Ministers has agreed that a significant proportion of such costs will be financed from the European Community budget.