HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc532-3W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 June to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks),Official Report, columns 234–35, if he will list the cost for each financial year from 1996–97 to 1998–99 of (a) the compensation arrangements to farmers for cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (b) the payments to slaughterhouses for handling cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (c) payments to renderers for handling cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (d) the cost of storage, prior to incineration, of the rendered remains of cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (e) the cost of incineration of the remains of cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (f) the calf slaughter premium, (g) the package of aid for the renderers, (h) the package of aid for the abattoirs, (i) the package of aid to the cutting industries, (j) the feed recall scheme and (k) the additional running costs for the agriculture departments; and if he will list where applicable the net EU contribution for each measure, taking account of both the UK's contribution to additional EU spending and the effect of additional receipts on the UK abatement. [38803]

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The figures are given to the nearest million pounds in the table. Where applicable, the net EU contribution is given between parentheses.

Measure 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
(a) compensation arrangements to farmers for cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain 455 (153) 455 (213) 455 (47)
(b) payments to slaughterhouses for handling cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (c) payments to renderers for handling cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (d) the cost of storage, prior to incineration of the remains of cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain, (e) cost of incineration of the remains of cattle over 30 months of age which cannot now enter the food chain1 120 120 120
(f) calf slaughter premium 50 (36) 50 (18) 50 (14)
(g) package of aid for the renderers 118 59 0
(h) package of aid for the abattoirs, (i) package of aid to the cutting industries2 120 0 0
(j) feed recall scheme 6 0 0
(k) additional running costs for the agriculture departments 60 61 60
(l) other miscellaneous BSE expenditure including top up payments on prime beef, beef stocks disposal schemes and compensation and destruction of young bulls in Northern Ireland 108 3 0
Total cost 1,037 748 685

These figures and the figures for the net EU contribution and the net cost to the UK taxpayer are unchanged from those given on 27 June (Official Report, columns 234–235).

1 A break down of the costs of slaughter, rendering, storage and disposal of animals under the over 30 month scheme could only be carried out at present at disproportionate cost.

2 A breakdown of the two costs could only be provided at disproportionate cost.