§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the losses incurred by lowland suckler farmers during the period when BSE414W has been in the UK beef herd; and what public funds they have received in respect of the effect of BSE on their businesses. [47851]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 1 July 1998]: In March 1997, the UK Agriculture Departments and HM Treasury commissioned an independent study from DTZ Pieda Consulting to assess the economic impact of BSE on the UK economy. The study was completed in March of this year and a copy of the published report has been placed in the Library of the House. The report includes an estimate of the impact of BSE on the beef sector as a whole, but not for lowland suckler farmers separately.
Producers of animals suspected of having BSE receive compensation based on average market prices. Additional public funds, totalling in excess of £2.5 billion, have been spent on BSE-related measures since March 1996. Lowland suckler producers will have benefited, directly or indirectly, under many of these measures, but it is not possible to quantify the sums involved.