asked the Minister for Agriculture the total cost of the bovine disease eradication scheme from its establishment to date; if he will give a breakdown of that cost as between (a) compensation paid to farmers for diseased animals and (b) administration of the scheme including salaries and payments to veterinary surgeons.
Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Eradication Schemes.
476.
To date, expenditure on the bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis eradication schemes, exclusive of salaries, wages and accommodation, has amounted to £232 million, of which £114 million was paid in compensation to farmers for diseased animals and £84 million in veterinary surgeons' fees. Supplies such as eartags, tuberculin, vaccine, stationery, together with travel and miscellaneous costs accounted for the balance.
For the earlier years of the schemes it is not possible to segregate administrative from other costs. In recent years, however, administrative costs have been running at about £8.5 million per annum (or 28 per cent of gross costs).