HC Deb 29 June 1971 vol 820 cc70-1W
Mr. Molyneaux

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the quantity and average price of cheese and butter imported into Great Britain from the Irish Republic and from Northern Ireland in each of the five years 1966 to 1970.

Mr. Prior

Details of imports into Great Britain from the Irish Republic and from Northern Ireland are not separately available.

Figures for imports into the United Kingdom—including Northern Ireland—in 1970 are obtainable from the Overseas Trade Accounts for December 1970 and for earlier years in the Annual Statements of Trade.

Mr. Molyneaux

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the arrangements to be made for the import of minor milk products, butter and cheese, respectively, from the Irish Republic in 1971–72.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The import quota for butter from the Irish Republic in 1971–72 is 35,000 tons, but my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced on 29th April that, in view of the short supply, butter quotas were being supplemented by open individual licensing. The period of the later has been extended until 30th September. For cheddar and cheddar-type cheese the Irish Republic participates in the voluntary restraint arrangement, details of which were given by my right hon. Friend in reply to his hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Boscawen) on 17th March.

For milk products for which minimum import prices are being set under the Price Stability of Imported Products (Minimum Import Price Levels) (Milk and Milk Products) Order, 1971, the Irish Republic is not liable to levy, but the prices or quantities of these products will be so regulated as to be consistent with the objectives of the scheme.—[Vol. 813, c. 357.]

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