HL Deb 18 February 2003 vol 644 cc170-1WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 January (HC Deb 375 76W), why the totals of modulation receipts in England given in the columns in the table at the top of the page do not correspond to the totals given further down the page. [HL1508]

Lord Whitty

The first table shows the payments which have been made to eligible beneficiaries within the English Rural Development Programme, and which have been funded from the modulation receipts previously collected. The second table shows the total and projected amounts of modulation receipts collected.

By its nature, modulation generates receipts for the member state in advance of expenditure being made. Funds collected through modulation will, however, be spent before the deadline for their use, together with an equivalent sum in national match-funding, in order to deliver environmental benefits through the agri-environment schemes.

Scheme 2001–02 £ million 2002–03 (April to November 2002) £ million 2002–03 (forecast total) £ million
Countryside stewardship 3.4 2.2 8.6
Environmentally sensitive areas 1.3 3.5 7.6
Organic farming 3.8 4.4 5.7
Energy crops 0.1 0.03 0.1

£ million 2001–02 2002–03 1 2002–03 2
27.3 30 40.6