HC Deb 02 July 1982 vol 26 cc404-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the information given in the answer of 30 March, Official Report, c. 103–4, to the hon. member for Grimsby concerning the levies to take account of the recent changes in the European monetary system and the increase in common agricultural policy prices.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The information requested for the principal foodstuffs is provided in the following table. The third country offer prices used by the Commission to determine rates of levy applicable on 21 June 1982 are taken as the world price. For pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs the world price is taken as the current sluicegate price, less supplementary levies where applicable. I must emphasise again that the figures do not accurately represent the prices at which the United Kingdom or the Community could buy from the world market, if more supplies from third countries were sought, and are therefore largely notional.

Although the figures take account of any changes which have occurred as a result of the recent prices settlement and European monetary system realignment, for commodities with marketing years beginning after 21 June, the support prices applying on that date were for the 1981–82 marketing year.

≑ Most imports of beef from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced levy rates.

¶Imports of lamb under voluntary restraint agreements with principal suppliers and related arrangements are subject to a reduced charge of 10 per cent. ad valorem. Any imports outside these arrangements are subject to levies which cannot exceed the 20 per cent. tariff rate bound in the GATT.

● There is virtually no trade in liquid milk on world markets.

▀ A special lower rate of levy is applicable to imports of butter from New Zealand.

⋆ In practice United Kingdom imports from third countries are normally covered by the Lomé convention and enter the Community levy-free.

# The United Kingdom net levy is obtained by multiplying the common levy by the United Kingdom monetary co-efficient of 0.904 and adding the United Kingdom MCA.