HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 c47W
Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost of BSE to public funds. [158002]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 10 April 2001]: Total expenditure on the BSE crisis is estimated to be £4.4 billion to the end of this financial year. Of that amount, the other European Union member states contribute about £500 million when the Fontainebleau mechanism is taken into account. Therefore, the net cost of BSE to public funds is about £3.9 billion to the end of 2001–02.