HC Deb 29 January 1979 vol 961 cc328-9W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the cost to the United Kingdom in each year for which the information is available to subsidise the sale of EEC butter stocks to the Soviet Union and other third countries;

(2) what has been the cost to the United Kingdom in each year for which the information is available to store or destroy beef, milk powder, wine or fruit, as part of EEC policies; and what has been the cost of subsidised exports to third countries.

COMMUNITY EXPENDITURE
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL GUIDANCE AND GUARANTEE FUND—GUARANTEE SECTION
Million units of account
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
I. Public and private storage
Beef 250.3 438.3 350.8 239.6
Skimmed milk 1.2 (-16.3) 50.4 449.9 250.1
Wine 6.6 25.9 36.4 43.3 37.2
II. Withdrawal Compensation and buying in
Fresh fruit and vegetables 5.4 44.3 48.5 165.9 104.5
III. Export refunds
Beef 2.7 55.5 144.2 135.7 114.2
Milk and milk products 328.1 342.0 328.5 694.4 1,237.0
Wine 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.6 1.1
Fresh fruit and vegetables 25.1 16.7 28.3 41.9 31.0
Notes:
(1) Figures have been taken from EAGGF annual reports.
(2) Figures for "skimmed milk" are given in section I because those for "milk powder" are no separately available.
(3) Figures for "fresh fruit and vegetables" are given in sections II and III because those for "fruit" are not separately available.
(4) Figures for "milk and milk products" are given in section III because those for "milk powder" and "butter" are not separately available.

The United Kingdom percentage contributions to the Communities' Budget and therefore to these costs for the years covered by the table were as follows:

1973 8.8
1974 11.0
1975 13.6
1976 16.3
1977 19.2
For Budget purposes in those years, £1 equalled 2.4 units of account.