§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much seed and beans are imported into the United Kingdom for the purposes of processing into vegetable fats and oils.
§ Mr. GummerI have been asked to reply.
Provisional estimates indicate that the vegetable oil and fat processing industry crushed 640,000 tonnes of rape seed in 1985. Although the United Kingdom is a substantial net exporter, trade statistics indicate that 60,000 tonnes of rape seed were imported in 1985. The industry also crushed a further 564,000 tonnes of other seeds and beans, all of which were imported. The corresponding figures for 1984 were 614,000 tonnes of rape seed crushed, with 69,000 tonnes imported, and 574,000 tonnes of other seeds and beans crushed.