To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many applications have been received under the EC surplus food scheme in each of the last five years by region; how many were (a) accepted and (b) rejected by the Intervention Board; and if he will make a statement; [34733](2) how many applications have been received by his Ministry under the European Community surplus food scheme; what was the number, by category for each of the last five years; how many applications for each category were turned down; and if he will make a statement. [34734]

The number of applications received by the Intervention Board, acting on behalf of the four agricultural Departments which are responsible for the designation process, in each of the last three financial years, is as follows:

	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
England	1,050	816	899
Northern Ireland	86	66	50
Scotland	272	235	168
Wales	95	78	86

The number of organisations designated by the Agriculture Departments was as follows:

	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
England	948	713	669
Northern Ireland	82	62	36
Scotland	256	213	151
Wales	81	64	80

The number of unsuccessful applications was as follows:

	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
England	102	103	230
Northern Ireland	4	4	14
Scotland	16	22	17
Wales	14	14	6

These figures include applications received after the closing date or withdrawn, and those rejected because the applicant did not fulfil the conditions of the scheme or planned to operate in an area covered by a more suitable organisation.A list of organisations designated in England in 1994, by region, has been placed in the Library.Information on applications prior to 1992–93 and further breakdown by geographical regions or type of organisation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.