§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received details of the exports of foodstuffs and wine to the Soviet Union in 1981; and if he will make a statement detailing what figures are available.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAs explained in my reply of 25 January 1982, the availability of figures on exports from the European Economic Community to the USSR in 1981 has been affected by the Civil Service dispute and difficulties in other member States. In these circumstances, at present only figures for the European Community less the United Kingdom from January-September 1981 and for the United Kingdom from January-February and September-December 1981 can be provided. These are as follows:
372W volume of EEC surpluses of the foodstuffs covered by the common agricultural policy which had to be disposed of through subsidised or rebated export, food aid, or storage, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures of surpluses in each of the previous three years.
EC exports to the USSR—January—September (excluding the United Kingdom)
metric tonnes Wheat 204,228 Barley 502,489 Wheat flour 542,323 Malt 131,024 Butter — Butter oil 87
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI regret that information about European Community surplus foodstuffs disposed of through subsidised or rebated export is not readily available.
Information concerning surpluses disposed of through food aid or storage in public intervention is contained in the following tables:
metric tonnes Skimmed milk powder — Beef and veal 93,823 Pigmeat 2,169 Poultrymeat 71,763 Sugar (refined) 514,699 Wine 88,758 Source: Eurostats.
United Kingdom exports to the USSR—January-February and September-December 1981 metric tonnes Wheat 74,125 Barley 81,743 Malt 11,227 Butter 1 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his replies of 2 March, Official Report, col. 66, and 19 February, Official Report, col. 235, to the hon. Member for Southend, East concerning export rebates for food exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he has now received the comparable figures for 1981 from the Commission in respect of the other member States of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerAs I said in my reply of 2 March, I have asked the Commission for the information. I understand that figures in the form requested are proving difficult and expensive to obtain, but the Commission is pursuing its inquiries. I shall pass on to my hon. Friend as soon as possible whatever information I receive from the Commission.