HC Deb 12 April 1973 vol 854 cc1479-81
1. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the operations of the Intervention Board.

7. Mr. Jay

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of what commodities have been bought by the Intervention Board since it was set up; and how these commodities have been disposed of.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Anthony Stodart)

The Intervention Board became operational on 1st February this year. The main activities of the board in these early stages have been concerned with its import-export licensing functions, with the subsidy for the denaturing of wheat and with the purchase of skimmed milk powder. At the end of March 5,874 tons of skimmed milk powder and 21 tons of butter had been offered to the board. The question of disposal, which is co-ordinated at Community level, does not yet arise in respect of these stocks.

Mr. Lipton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in the light of what has happened over the sale of cheap butter to Russia, the British housewife now regards the Intervention Board as public enemy No. 1? May we know what further villainies are contemplated by this board at the expense of the British standard of living?

Mr. Stodart

The Intervention Board is carrying out a different system of support-ting producers' prices.

Mr. Jay

Will the Minister give a clear assurance that this board will in no circumstances deliberately render food unfit for human consumption?

Mr. Stodart

As I have told the right hon. Gentleman before, I cannot and will not give that assurance. It has been the custom in this country for wheat to be fed to animals and for other feedingstuffs to be rendered unfit for human consumption on many occasions, even in the days of the right hon. Gentleman's Government.

Mr. Farr

Is my hon. Friend aware of the statement credited to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) that meat is being bought up by the Intervention Board for the purpose of destroying it? Is this true, or not?

Mr. Stodart

I read that statement and found it hard to believe my eyes. I can only repeat the reply that the right hon. Gentleman was given on television last Friday night, after 20 minutes' discussion —that he had been talking absolute and utter rubbish.

Mr. David Clark

Will the Minister confirm that there are about 150,000 tons of butter in stock in Britain, and that about 10 per cent. will be taken by the Intervention Board on 1st May? Will not that mean that the butter producers will make £500,000 profit overnight? Is it not absolutely ridiculous to build a butter mountain in Britain in view of the European situation?

Mr. Stodart

I cannot confirm that there are 150,000 tons of butter in cold stores, but that is a perfectly normal quantity to have at this time. I cannot say whether it will be taken into intervention.