HC Deb 11 May 2001 vol 368 cc493-4W
Mr. Davidson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Glasgow, Pollok constituency, the effect on Glasgow, Pollok of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [160826]

Ms Quin

MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU common agricultural policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or Scotland basis.

Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

Consumers in Glasgow, Pollok will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Glasgow. Pollok. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the rural development regulation. As agriculture is a devolved ma[...]ter this is being implemented in Scotland by the Scottish Executive through the Scottish rural development programme (SRDP). Over the lifetime of the programme, around £685 million is being invested in agri-environment measures, forestry and the new less favoured areas support scheme. In addition, around £100 million will be spent in Scotland on measures including the processing and marketing scheme and the agricultural business development scheme.

By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, such measures offer benefits to all who visit the countryside.