HC Deb 15 November 1976 vol 919 cc352-4W
Mr. Tom King

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the recommendations for action by the Government made in the NEDO working sector report for the food and drinks industry together with details of the action taken by the Government to implement those recommendations.

Mr. John Silkin

The interim report of the Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry Economic Development Council recommended that Government should (a) amend the price controls so as to provide companies with a greater ability and incentive for investment; (b) continue to press in GATT and elsewhere for a reduction in restrictions on United Kingdom food and drink exports; (c) maintain the necessary balance between the interests of consumers, users and producers when considering the parity of the green pound but work to reduce the current unfair competitive advantage provided to Danish and Dutch pig producers by the present method of calculating pig-meat MCAs; (d) give the Weights and Measures Bill sufficient priority in its legislative programme for it to be enacted in this Session.

Action has been taken as follows:

  1. (a) This recommendation has been implemented.
  2. (b) The Government take every opportunity to do this. The United Kingdom is actively supporting the EEC's participation in the GATT Multilateral Trade Negotiations which it is hoped can be concluded by the end of 1977.
  3. (c) The value of the green pound is kept under continuing review, taking account of the interests of all those concerned, including producers, manufacturers and consumers. Now is not an appropriate time to make a change. A small adjustment in the method of calculating MCAs for pig meat has been agreed and put into effect. United

Fat steers Fat heifers Store steers Store heifers Net MCA subsidy £/100kg (liveweight)
1976—week commencing:
29th August 9 19 811 302 1.802
5th September 25 3 1,772 139 1.802
12th September 27 175 4,842 960 1.802
19th September 121 219 4,416 652 1.800
26th September 19 85 2,172 352 1.801
3rd October — 65 1,064 173 3.422
10th October 161 102 4,873 970 6.159
17th October — 37 5,201 531 6.190
24th October 26 30 4,373 1,062 6.190

Sources:

Port Veterinary Officers' Returns.

Official Journals of the EEC.

Records of the actual MCA payments are not available to my Department since they are made by the Irish Republic authorities.

Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the normal length of time between the import and export of live cattle and meat to and from the Irish Republic and Great Britain and the payment or repayment of MCAs by the United Kingdom and by the Irish Republic.

Mr. Bishop

The authorities in the Irish Republic are responsible for both the collection of their MCA levy and the payment of the United Kingdom MCA refund on exports of cattle and meat to Great Britain. I understand that the

Kingdom proposals for a larger change remain under discussion in the EEC.

(d) The measure in question has passed through all stages in this House and is expected to pass through its final stages later this week in another place.