§ 18. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current size of the beef mountain and other food stocks in the United Kingdom subject to official and artificial support; and what is his policy with regard to the future of these reserves.
§ Mr. StrangThe latest estimates of United Kingdom intervention stocks of beef, skimmed milk powder and butter are 12,725, 34,384 and 1,068 metric tons, respectively. In addition, about 6,000 metric tons of beef and 13,000 metric tons of butter are in FEOGA-assisted private storage but are due to be withdrawn from store in the next two or three months. My right hon. Friend has said on many occasions that he wants to see Community consumers given priority in the disposal of surpluses but our objective remains to prevent their emergence in the first place.