HC Deb 29 January 1998 vol 305 c348W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) by sector and (b) in total, the maximum amount of compensation the Government are empowered to distribute to the agriculture sector in the United Kingdom in the current financial year in respect of the appreciation of the pound; what percentage of each available amount would by paid by (i) the EU and (ii) the United Kingdom; what percentage of the total amount available for each sector will be paid to farmers in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [26001]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: The maximum total aid which could currently be paid in the UK this year is £464 million. The breakdown of the maximum which could be paid to each eligible sector is as follows: cereals £143.5 million; dairy £221.5 million; beef and veal £77 million; sugar beet £22 million. The UK can reclaim in full from the EU budget any spending up to half the £464 million maximum aid. In practice, however, the UK Exchequer would bear around 71 per cent. of the cost of the EU reimbursed expenditure.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 22 December a package of aid to the livestock sector worth £85 million.

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