asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the EEC spent in 1974 taking beef into intervention; what is the estimate for 1975; what is the United Kingdom contribution in each case; how this compared with the amount spent by the United Kingdom on supporting the production of beef in each of the years 1970 to 1974, and compares with the estimate for 1975; and what were the differences between the prices of Common Market, British and non-Market beef at the time the EEC ban on imports was imposed.
Expenditure from Community funds on intervention measures in the beef sector in 1974 was £110·5 million*. This includes the cost of aids for private storage as well as expenditure resulting from the buying of beef by intervention agencies. The corresponding budget entry for 1975 is £53·75 million*. The United Kingdom contribution to the Community as a whole was 11·04 per cent. in 1974 and will be 13·57 per cent. in 1975.Expenditure by the United Kingdom Exchequer on support for beef production in the financial years April-March was as follows:—
£ million | |
1970–71 | 83·5 |
1971–72 | 59·1 |
1972–73 | 60·2 |
1973–74 | 65·1 |
1974–75 (forecast) | 145·0 |
Notes)
* converted from units of account at £1=2·4 u.a.