Hill Farming Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the grants and subsidies to hill farming are mandatory; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the extent to which the different benefits are financed out of the European Economic Community budget. Mrs. Fenner The special aid to farmers in the less favoured areas is provided at my discretion within the limits permitted by EC directive 75/268 in order to ensure the continued viability of our hill and upland farms.Details of aids paid in the less favoured areas in 1983 and of the European Community's contribution to them are as follows: ---------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------- |Hill livestock compensatory allowances| ---------------------------------------- |Development plans | ---------------------------------------- |Joint investment schemes | ---------------------------------------- |Total | ---------------------------------------- Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the grants and subsidies covered by the figures given in his written reply dated 19 December, Official Report, colum 200, on support to hill farms; and if he will give the amounts spent under the various headings. Mr. MacGregor The following grants and subsidies were included in the derivation of the percentage figures quoted in the written reply dated 19 December 1984, at column 200:------------------- | | ------------------- |Basic Price | ------------------- |Sluice-gate price| ------------------- |Basic import levy| ------------------- ------------------------- |Market support | ------------------------- |Export refunds | ------------------------- |Aids to private storage| ------------------------- |Total | ------------------------- Source: European Commission.