HC Deb 28 June 1973 vol 858 c1720
10. Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current rate of levy or import duty on imports of canned ham.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The levy on canned ham imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EEC is this week about £136 per ton.

Mr. David Stoddart

How can the Minister of State be so brazen and barefaced as to stand at that Dispatch Box and announce such a swingeing tax on food? Is he aware that that figure represents sixpence per pound to the housewife buying canned ham in the shops? Is he further aware that in percentage terms it represents 10 per cent. on the retail price and 12½ per cent. on the wholesale price of canned ham? Does not the Government's claim that there will be no tax on food look absolutely silly and absurd?

Mr. Molloy

And obscene.

Mr. David Stoddart

And obscene, as my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) said. Will the hon. Gentleman do something to eradicate this tax on the housewife's purse.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The hon. Gentleman, my namesake, is totally and utterly wrong, because by far the bulk of our supplies come from within the Common Market and carry no levy at all.

Mr. Jay

If the Government claim that they are not responsible for the present high food prices, why do they not remove this and other import taxes forthwith?

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The right hon. Gentleman might be interested to know that prior to joining the Community—I am quite certain that he is attempting to make a Community point—there was a 10 per cent. ad valorem tax upon this particular commodity, making the duty not very far off what it is at the moment.