HC Deb 04 February 1985 vol 72 cc444-5W
Mr. Merchant

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what, expressed in pence per pound, is the import levy into the EEC of the following goods (a) butter, (b) cheese, (c) sugar, (d) wheat and (e) beef.

Mr. MacGregor

The information requested is as follows. The import levies shown have been adjusted for monetary compensatory amounts set for the United Kingdom. The rates shown are those applicable on 23 January 1985.

United Kingdom levy
p per lb.
Butter (82 per cent. fat) *52.5
Cheese (Cheddar) *48.9
Sugar †12.6
Common wheat 1.5
Beef ‡64.7
* In practice, special quota arrangements apply to most imports of butter and cheese from third countries, allowing entry at reduced rates of levy. Under these schemes a levy of 19.5p per lb would apply in the case of 80 per cent. fat butter and a levy of 4.2p per lb would apply to Cheddar cheese imported from New Zealand under the quota arrangements.
† In practice, the United Kingdom's imports from third countries are generally covered by the Lomé Convention and enter the Community levy free.
‡ The rates vary according to Tariff Heading and country of origin. The rate for carcase meat (Tariff Heading 02.01A IIa1) from third countries other than Austria, Switzerland or Sweden is quoted. In practice, most beef imports from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced rates of levy.