§ Lord Boardmanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the speech by Baroness Hayman on 8 March (H.L. Deb., col. 1143), on what basis the Government calculate that agrimonetary compensation paid to British farmers under the common agricultural policy costs the British taxpayer 85p for every £1 received. [HL1711]
§ Baroness HaymanWhere agrimonetary compensation is optional, 50 per cent is funded by the EU and 50 per cent from national funds. Around 71 per cent of the EU contribution is funded by the UK taxpayer as a result of the Fontainebleau rebate. The taxpayer also funds 100 per cent of the UK contribution. Thus, paying both the EU and the national contribution would require a total contribution by the British taxpayer of about 85 per cent.