§ 55. Mr. Torneyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the amount by which the world price of butter is cheaper than the EEC price; if this has affected consumption in the United Kingdom; and, if so, by how much.
§ Mr. BishopThe world price of butter implied by the EEC Commission's present calculation of the common import levy on butter is about £1,000 per tonne lower than the United Kingdom intervention price, but this relates to small unrepresentative lots offered at EEC frontiers and does not represent the price at which substantial quantities could be purchased on world markets. It does not therefore provide a meaningful basis for assessing changes in consumption.