§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was given to the Meat and Livestock Commission in each of the last five years. [157706]
§ Alun MichaelFunding (ie from net Statutory Levy income and non-commercial fee and grant income) received by the Meat and Livestock Commission in the last five years was as follows:
£ million 1998–99 39.566 1999–2000 38.461 2000–01 36.668 2001–02 27.667 2002–03 31.531
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department's funding to the Meat and Livestock Commission is spent; and what rules apply to the promotion of(a)Welsh (i) lamb and (ii) beef, (b)Scottish (ii)lamb and (ii) beef and (c)English (i) lamb and (ii)beef. [158582]
§ Alun MichaelThe Agriculture Act 1967 requires the Department to pay for the remuneration and expenses of Meat and Livestock (MLC) Commissioners. As regards how the MLC spend the statutory general and promotional levies raised by them on cattle, sheep and pigs, this information is available in the MLC's annual report and accounts which Ministers are required under the Act to lay before each House of Parliament.
Bodies in receipt of MLC levy funding must abide by EU State Aid rules when undertaking lamb or beef promotion campaigns. These rules place restrictions on the use of State (including levy) funds for the advertising of agricultural products on the basis of origin. Welsh lamb, Welsh beef, Scotch lamb and Scotch beef have been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Commission. This means that the European Commission 1548W has accepted the link between the geographical origin and the characteristics of the product. In such cases, State money may be used to fund advertising where origin is part of the message. English lamb and English beef do not have PGI status.