§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of beef, butter and wheat has been exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the European Economic Community since the date of the invasion of Afghanistan; what has been the cost in subsidies of these exports, respectively; and what were the comparable totals of exports and subsidies in the same period in each of the previous three years.
§ Mr. WigginThe European Commission has provided the following estimates of the quantities of beef, butter and wheat exported to the Soviet Union in 1980 and in recent years:
Tonnes BEEF January-June 1977 3,100 January-June 1978 Nil January-June 1979 17,058 January-June 1980 60,000 BUTTER 1977 49,131 1978 20,876 1979 141,000 January-June 1980 28,900 WHEAT 1977 Nil 1978 1 January-October 1979 5,000 1980 (to date) 460,000 It is not possible to calculate precisely the cost of the subsidies involved. I shall, however, write to my hon. Friend when I have made further inquiries.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price per pound of the 60,000 tons of beef which the European Economic Community Commission has permitted to be exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the current year; and if he has any information from international sources about the price at which the beef is sold to Russian consumers.
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§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIt is not possible to say what price per pound was paid by beef traders in obtaining supplies for these exports. Wholesale beef prices vary widely from country to country within the Community according to the market situation, the type and quality of the beef involved, and other factors. From which source within the Community and at what price traders obtained the beef for export will have been a commercial decision. No information is available on the disposal of these exports on arrival in the USSR. However, I understand that beef is sold to the Russian consumer at between £1 and £1.65 per kilo.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price per pound of the butter which the European Economic Community Commission has permitted to be sold to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the current year; and if he has any information from international sources about the price at which the butter is sold to Soviet consumers.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithButter has been sold by tender from intervention stocks for export to the USSR at a price of 31p per lb. Prices for other export sales do not have to be disclosed, but the rate of export refunds in force until 1 June would imply a similar sale price. Since 1 June, when the export refund was reduced substantially, the implied selling price would be about 60p a lb. My most recent information is that butter is sold to Soviet consumers at between £1 and £1.20 per lb.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of beef and butter, respectively, which has been exported to East European nations other than the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the European Economic Community since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and what cost in subsidy was involved.
§ Mr. WigginI am asking the European Commission for the figures and shall reply to my hon. Friend when they become available.
§ Mr. Torneyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of British beef are being ex- 454W ported to Romania; and whether he has any evidence that this beef is being re-exported to the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn the period January to May this year, 2,412 tonnes of beef were exported to Romania from the United Kingdom. I have no evidence to substantiate claims that the beef is being re-exported to the USSR, but we have asked the Commission to investigate this.