HL Deb 21 July 1997 vol 581 cc149-50WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money each country of the EU gives or receives annually under the common agricultural policy and how they expect these figures to change over the next two years.

Lord Donoughue

Member states contribute to the EU budget as a whole, and not to any particular part. The CAP currently accounts for about half of EU budget expenditure. As an indicator of contributions and receipts in 1996, the table below shows by member state, in column (a) percentage gross contribution to the EU, in column (b) percentage distribution of common agricultural policy receipts, and in column (c) the sterling equivalent (£ million) of CAP receipts. Developments over the next two years will depend on a variety of factors, including the weather, trade flows, changes in the animal health situation, and decisions to be taken by the Council of Ministers, and cannot be predicted.

(a) (b) (c)
Belgium 3.9 2.9 952
Denmark 1.9 3.5 1,126
Germany 30.0 15.5 5.023
Greece 1.5 7.2 2,340
Spain 6.3 10.4 3,361
France 17.4 24.5 7,939
Ireland 0.9 4.4 1,412
Italy 12.0 10.8 3,505
Luxembourg 0.2 0.1 17
Netherlands 5.9 3.9 1,275
Austria 2.9 3.1 1,007
Portugal 1.4 1.7 536
Finland 1.5 1.7 538
Sweden 2.9 1.6 517
UK 11.3 8.9 2,880

Notes:

The UK gross contribution is net of the Fontainebleau abatement. CAP receipts converted into sterling from ecu equivalent using 1996 average exchange rate of £1 = 1.204 ecu.

Sources:

Gross contributions: 1996 Supplementary and Amending Budget.

CAP receipts:

Draft 1996 FEOGA Report.