§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the breakdown of expenditure of £51 million sterling equivalent by the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF in respect of sugar for the year 1973, stating which member States were in receipt of which sums for this year and providing reference for further details of this expenditure.
§ Mr. StrangA breakdown of 1973 expenditure is given below:
§ Mr. BishopA seasonal increase in prices can normally be expected at this time of the year. The extent of the increase in market prices over the last week or two may be largely due to a reaction from the abnormally high marketings over recent months now that producers have a firm assurance of reasonable returns and relief from the winter fodder problems. The export of live animals will 41W have had negligible effect. There are still plenty of cattle on farms and in 1975, as a whole, home-produced beef should be as plentiful as in 1974. The new beef regime introduced on 3rd March will help consumers as well as producers by bringing stability to the market and by continuing to ensure that producers receive reasonable returns for their fat cattle.