asked the Minister for Finance, in respect of the 2 per cent agricultural commodity levy (a) the total estimated yields for the calendar years 1979 and 1980 and (b) the estimated yield for each year in respect of each agricultural product as stated in his Financial Statement of 7 February 1979.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Commodity Levy.
135.
As indicated in the budget statement it is estimated that the levy will yield about £16 million in 1979. As regards 1980, it will be appreciated that since the yield will depend on the quantity and value of output in that year, it is not possible at this stage to give anything more than a rough estimate of the order of £30 million.
The estimated 1979 yield is based on projections made from the published CSO data on gross agricultural output for 1977, up-dated to take account of developments in quantity and value in 1978 and making appropriate assumptions in relation to probable developments in 1979. While I am satisfied that the figure of £16 million is as close an estimate of the likely overall yield from the levy this year as can be made given the uncertainties involved, to break down the estimate as requested to show the expected yield from each product would give a misleading impression of the accuracy of each constituent part.