HC Deb 13 March 1975 vol 888 cc207-9W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to obtain or improvise additional storage capacity for grain in the United Kingdom; and if he has approached the Port of London Authority in this respect concerning silo capacity in the Royal Docks.

Mr. Bishop :

So far as the present crop year is concerned there are adequate storage facilities available to deal with any foreseeable intervention situation. As to the long term, the Intervention Board

£/long ton
Wheat Barley Maize
(a) EEC institutional prices effective during March 1975—
Target price … … … … 68.72 62.72 61.02
Intervention price … … … 62.44 55.30 50.43
(b) Levy payable on imports to United Kingdom (12th March 1975)— … … — — —
(c)World Price … … … … 49.09 53.02 47.00

Institutional prices are set for grain of a standard quality. The world prices quoted have been converted to that standard and to a cif Rotterdam basis. They are expressed by the Commission in units of account and have been converted to £ sterling at the agricultural represen-

There are also special levy arrangements in operation for the import of New Zealand butter and cheese.

The quantity and value of the main foodstuffs imported from New Zealand in 1974 together with an estimate of the duty and levy receipts on New Zealand mutton, lamb, butter and cheese are set out below. These estimates are the best that can be made at short notice but are only approximate. The total amount of duty paid on apples cannot be readily calculated. The arrangements for payment of levies and duties to the EEC were set out in the reply given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary of the Treasury on 4th March. —[Vol. 887, c. 396-397.]

for Agricultural Produce, in co-operation with the Home-Grown Cereals Authority, acting as its agents, is reviewing all the facilities that may be available.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current target and intervention prices of the main grains inside the EEC and comparable world prices, together with the rate of duty and levies for imports to the United Kingdom from world markets.

Mr. Bishop:

Following is the information requested:

tative rate of £1=2.0053 ua. As far as the United Kingdom was concerned the Community import levy at 12th March 1975 was reduced by the accession compensatory amount to zero on barley and maize and to £1.69 on wheat. Monetary compensatory amounts acting as import subsidies were applicable on 12th March 1975 at the rate per ton of £5.47 on barley, £5.61 on maize and £6.40 on wheat. The latter, therefore, more than offset the import levy on wheat. No duty is payable on the import to the United Kingdom of any of these grains.