HC Deb 27 November 1980 vol 994 cc166-8W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the new sheepmeat regime was introduced; and if he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the weekly average price of home-killed and New Zealand sheepmeat since that date compared with the corresponding figure in 1979.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The European Community sheepmeat regime came into force on 20 October 1980.

The following table shows estimated average weekly retail prices in England and Wales of home-killed and New Zealand lamb from the beginning of the regime compared with the same period in 1979:

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to theOfficial Report, Vol. 974, c. 234–6. The completed 1978 table and provisional figures for 1979 are as follows:

Indigenous Production* Sheepmeat Imports (carcase meat only)† Exports Consumption‡
Irish Republic 41 .. 15 31
Denmark .. 3 — 3
Greece 80 12 — 92
1979—
West Germany 18 34 9 48
France 159 42 1 206
Italy 35 17 .. 68
Netherlands 21 2 13 5
Belgium/Luxembourg 3 16 .. 20
United Kingdom 240 208 39 394
Irish Republic 34 .. 13 27
Denmark 1 3 .. 3
Greece 80 12 — 92
* Excluding meat equivalent of imported live animals but including that of exported live animals.
†Excluding re-exports.
‡Net domestic utilisation.
Source: European Commission.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the agreed ceiling for imports of New Zealand sheepmeat; and how this compares with imports in each of the three years immediately preceding United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Under the voluntary restraint agreement between the New Zealand Government and the Community, New Zealand will limit her annual sendings of sheepmeat to the Community to 234,000 tonnes. This figure will rise to 245,000 tonnes after Greek accession.

The average level of the Community's imports from New Zealand in the last three years was 225,500 tonnes.

New Zealand's exports to the nine countries now comprising the Community between July 1970 and June 1973 were as follows (1):

1970–71 318,839
1971–72 306,837
1972–73 278,702

(1) These figures are taken from official New Zealand statistics which are based on July-June marketing years.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will bring up to date the figures circulated in the Official Report on 21 November 1979, columns 237–40, concerning sheepmeat prices.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The 1979 and 1980 (January to October) figures are as follows:

United Kingdom 1979 1980 (Jan-Oct Average) (a)
Average Market Price (£/tonne) (i) 1,392 1,376(b)
Wholesale Price (£/tonne) (ii):
Home Produced 1,428 1,398
New Zealand 1,149 1,237
Landed Price (£/tonne) (iii):
Irish Republic 1,160 1,030
New Zealand (c) 1,068 973
Retail Price Index (1970=100) (iv):
Mutton/Lamb 403 420
All items excluding foodstuffs 291 345
Consumption per head of mutton and lamb (1970=100) (v) 82 89(d)

Notes:

  1. (a) Provisional.
    2. 168
  2. (b) January-August only.
  3. (c) Including allowance for 20 per cent. GATT tariff.
  4. (d) January-June only

Sources:

  1. (i) Average market price under Fat Sheep Guarantee Scheme (estimated dressed carcase weight).
  2. (ii) Smithfield prices. Reuters quotations.
  3. (iii) United Kingdom Trade Statistics.
  4. (iv) Retail Price Index, Department of Employment.
  5. (v) National Food Survey

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