§ 13. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been (a) the increases in the levels of public stocks and (b) the average increases in export restitutions in the third quarter of 1982 compared with the third quarter of 1981 in the European Community for butter and wheat.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerAt the end of the third quarter of 1982 public intervention stocks of butter and wheat were 41,364 tonnes and 1,391,000 tonnes respectively higher than at the same stage in 1981.
Average export refunds for butter at the end of the third quarter of 1982 were 20 ecu per 100 kg higher than in 1981. For wheat the refund was 26 ecu per tonne higher.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs it true that the Commission expects surplus food stocks to rise in 1983 due to a downturn in consumption, itself attributable to escalating unemployment? Why does not the Secretary of State put it to his European colleagues that they should channel less money into support for agriculture and more into support for resolving problems of unemployment, both of which are in structural surplus?
§ Mr. WalkerAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the Community has only one area in which it is responsible for marketing arrangements, and that is agriculture. If we add together the national investments of all the European countries in helping with the problem of unemployment, and injections into industry and energy and, in Britain, injections into the nationalised industries, we find that the sums are very great.
§ Mr. SpearingWill the Minister confirm that about 1½ million tonnes of surplus British grown wheat will be exported in the coming year, and that the export subsidy per tonne will be about £60 to £70?
§ Mr. WalkerYes. I am pleased that a country which 10 years ago was a net importer of cereals, by about 10 million tonnes, is now a major exporter of 4 million tonnes.