§ 4. Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the United Kingdom intervention board for agricultural produce.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerObviously I cannot be satisfied with the efficiency of an intervention board where industrial action is taking place. But, with the exception of the adverse effects of the industrial action, I am satisfied with the efficiency of the intervention board.
§ Mr. SpearingIs the Minister aware that last year the intervention board spent £500 million of taxpayers' money on dubious purposes of various kinds? For example, £42 million was spent on feeding surplus milk powder to animals. In particular, is he aware that £145 million was spent on exporting surplus British grain and dairy products to countries outside the EEC? As Britain is a net importer of both grain and dairy products, how can that be efficient?
§ Mr. WalkerIf the hon. Gentleman studied agriculture rather more closely, he would discover that there were a number of varieties of grain, some of which we need to import and some of which we need to export.
§ Mr. John WellsCan my right hon. Friend give some assurance that the intervention board's attitude to the British apple industry will be more sound in the coming year?
§ Mr. WalkerI can undertake that it will be as sound as it possibly can be.
§ Mr. MylesWill my right hon. Friend take steps to change the standards for intervention, so that we do not take all the best products into intervention and leave the rather inferior ones for the consumer?
§ Mr. WalkerIntervention policy varies from one product to another. With regard to the whole intervention policy of Europe, we have been trying to stop, for example, the intervention of good meat which then deteriorates in intervention. We consider that to be an absurdity. We will always review such matters with that objective in mind.