Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is (a) the current levy on wheat, barley and maize imported into the United Kingdom, 513W in £ sterling after allowing for accession and monetary compensatory amounts, (b) the corresponding prices on the world market and (c) the former as a percentage of the latter.
§ Mr. Bishop(a) The net levies on wheat, barley and maize imported into the United Kingdom frequently vary daily. On 20th June, however, these net levies were £40.14p, £22.31p and £24.42p per tonne, respectively.
(b) It is not possible to determine a single world price for any grain as the price of all grains varies according to quality and variety. However the Home-Grown Cereals Authority quoted the following prices cif Tilbury or Glasgow on the 20th June 1977:
Wheat—Canadian Western Red Spring (1½ per cent.)=£80.50p per tonne (September delivery).
Maize—United States Yellow Corn 3= £64.00p per tonne (September delivery).
Barley—No quote available.
(c)I regret it is not possible to relate (a) as a percentage to (b) because the figures quoted in (a) were valid only on the date stated. As the monetary compensatory amount cannot be fixed in advance and may vary weekly it is impossible to determine the final net levy after MCA in advance. In addition the figures quoted in (b) relate to a future delivery date.