§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current world market price for butter, sugar and wheat; and what are the current intervention prices for these items under the common agricultural policy arrangements.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe information requested is provided in the following table. The implied world price is derived from Commission calculations and does not necessarily 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.
Estimated World Price* ECU/tonne
CAP intervention Price* ECU/tonne
Butter (82 per cent.) 2,170.0 3,178.4 Sugar (white) 294.8 †505.0 Common Wheat 153.3 ‡180.9 Notes: * "World prices" have been taken as the minimum offer prices of imports underlying the calculation of the variable levies and have been calculated by subtracting the levy in ECUs applicable on 18 March 1982 from the appropriate threshold price in ECUs. † Applicable to member States excluding Italy, United Kingdom, Irish Republic and after the addition of storage levy. ‡ Intervention price for feed wheat valid during March 1982.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the increases per pound since the last European Economic Community price review in the retail prices of items such as beef, butter, cheese, bread, bacon and sugar which are affected directly or partially by the common agricultural policy; if he will 344W express these increases as percentage additions to the prices current before the last European Economic Community price review; and if he will publish comparable figures and percentages in respect of items such as margarine, tea and coffee which are not covered by the common agricultural policy.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerRetail prices changed as follows between February 1981 and February 1982:
Percentage change Beef +18.6 Butter +11.7 Cheese +13.0 Bread +5.8 Bacon +15.7 Sugar +10.1 Margarine +3.5 Tea -4.0 Coffee *-3.8 * Mainly coffee, but also covering cocoa and proprietary drinks. I have already explained to my hon. Friend that retail food prices are affected by many factors, of which common agricultural policy support prices is only one.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider pressing for a freeze in the prices of foodstufs in structural surplus during the current discussions on European Economic Community prices.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn the Council of Agricultural Ministers, which has been considering the Commission's price proposals for 1982–83, we have urged prudent price increases for products in surplus.