§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the level of expenditure on the Over-30-Months scheme was in each year since its introduction; what the expected level of expenditure is in the current year and in each of the next five years; and, for each annual figure, how much is contributed from(a) UK funds and (b) EU funds. [122994]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 22 May 2000]: The information is as follows:
£ million Year Expenditure Contributed from UK funds Contributed from EU funds 1996–97 858 389 469 1997–98 432 230 202 1998–99 380 195 185 1999–20001 394 208 186 Current forecasts: 2000–01 329 176 153 2001–02 329 176 153 1Provisional The forecasts through to 2001–02 are set out in the MAFF/IB Departmental Report 2000. As part of Spending Review 2000 these forecasts together with forecasts for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are being reviewed. They will be announced as part of the SR2000 settlement in the summer.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a request was made by the Government to discuss the lifting of the Over-30-months scheme weight limit at(a) the first and (b) the second Beef Management Committee meetings in April. [121429]
§ Mr. Nick BrownOfficials wrote to the Services of the European Commission on 5 April asking them to make a proposal to the Beef Management Committee on 14 April to remove the weight limit on payments of Over-30-months scheme cattle. The Commission were unable to prepare a proposal in time for submission to that meeting, and there was no second meeting of the Management Committee in April. A proposal to remove the weight limit was agreed at the Beef Management Committee on 12 May.