To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the annual cost to (a) the European agricultural guarantee and guidance fund, and (b) the United Kingdom of the set-aside scheme agreed at the European Council meeting held on 11–13 February.

No estimate of the annual cost to EAGGF has been released by the Commission. For the United Kingdom, public expenditure planning totals were increased in the last survey by £16 million for 1989–90 and £22 million for 1990–91 to cover the cost of set-aside and extensification.