To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the costs of running the state veterinary service, excluding compensation paid as a result of animals contracting various diseases, for each year since 1979; what are his estimates of expenditure for each year until 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested for each year since 1979 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The baseline figures for expenditure for each year until 1993–94, is as follows: