§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the approximate advantage to the United Kingdom in the green pound arrangement over a convenient recent period; and what is his estimate of the disadvantage accruing to the United Kingdom of paying EEC prices instead of world prices for food imported from non-EEC countries.
§ Mr. BishopIt is not possible to give any overall assessment of the effect of the arrangements referred to by my hon. Friend. However, monetary compensatory amounts paid under the green pound arrangements reduce the cost of imports into the United Kingdom, and in the first half of this year the net claims by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce on Community funds amounted to about £61 million. During the same period the levies and duties raised on United Kingdom trade in food and feed with non-EEC countries amounted to about £65 million, a proportion of which will be passed to Community funds.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the present and future effect of the variations of the green pound on the trade in live cattle, beef, pigs and pigmeat between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland: and whether he will give an assurance that the trade flows between the two countries will not be affected to the disadvantage of the United Kingdom agriculture industry.
§ Mr. BishopTrade in live cattle, beef, pigs and pigmeat between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland can be affected by changing differentials between United Kingdom and Irish Republic representative rates. There is a particular risk of trade distortion in740W Northern Ireland because of the problem of controlling movements of livestock across the border with the Republic. Measures have been taken to meet this particular problem. I am not aware of any evidence that the agricultural industry in the United Kingdom is being damaged by the current differential in the representative rates.