§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of linseed fibre flax produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what was the total financial subsidy paid on this crop in each of those years. [87651]
§ Mr. RookerPayments made under the EU fibre flax scheme are based on the area of flax grown. The area of fibre flax grown in the United Kingdom in 1996, 1997 and 1998 was 20,200 hectares, 19,200 hectares and 16,800 hectares respectively. Based on the average yields achieved in those three years the tonnage of fibre flax produced would have been in the region of 27,000 tonnes in 1996, 16,000 tonnes in 1997 and 25,000 tonnes in 1998.
The total amount of subsidy paid out under the EU fibre flax scheme in the United Kingdom in 1996, 1997 and 1998 amounted to some £11.6 million, £12.5 million and £10.7 million respectively.