Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 January 2000. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 January 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the total available sum available under the EU surplus food scheme; what was his Department's budget in advertising the scheme; and how much grant was finally used.

Answer: Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total available sum available under the EU surplus food scheme; what was his Department's budget in advertising the scheme; and how much grant was finally used. [105661] Ms Quin: The last year that the UK participated in the EU surplus food scheme was 1998 when the sum made available to the UK for the distribution of surplus beef was £20.3 million. No separate Departmental budget allocation was made for advertising the scheme; expenditure for advertising the scheme was made available from overall Intervention Board funds. The funds allocated to the UK by the EU for the surplus food scheme were fully utilised.

Secondary information