asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount of State funds spent on disease eradication for the past ten years; if this is inclusive of EC aid; and if he feels that this spending represents value for money.
Written Answers. - Disease Eradication.
48.
As the reply is mainly in the form of a tabular statement, I propose to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Expenditure from State funds on the Bovine TB and Brucellosis Eradication Schemes 1976-1985
|
Year |
£ million |
|
1976 |
5.614 |
|
1977 |
12.922 |
|
1978 |
14.352 |
|
1979 |
15.587 |
|
1980 |
25.282 |
|
1981 |
26.021 |
|
1982 |
21.185 |
|
1983 |
23.015 |
|
1984 |
22.115 |
|
1985 |
28.741 |
|
Total |
194.834 |
The amount recouped from the European Community for disease eradication expenditure in the period was £12.2 million.
Any evaluation of this expenditure must have regard to the essential role of the schemes in preserving market outlets for livestock and livestock products and to the effects of productivity in agriculture of the removal over the period of hundreds of thousands of diseased animals together with prevention of disease spread. On this basis I am satisfied that the expenditure has been necessary and worthwhile.
Questions Nos. 49, 50 and 51 re-entered for oral reply.