HL Deb 28 March 2001 vol 624 cc40-1WA
Lord Inglewood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the total cost of BSE to the United Kingdom taxpayer. [HLI296]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)

Total expenditure on the BSE crisis is estimated to be £4.4 billion to the end of the financial year 2001–02. 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 the UK taxpayer to the end of the next financial year is about £3.9 billion.