§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's estimate of the numbers of individual deliveries of food by charities necessary to carry out the European Economic Community food aid scheme.
§ Mr. JoplingIndividual charitable organisations are arranging for the food concerned to reach recipients. I am not able to estimate the number of individual deliveries that this will involve.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what areas of the United Kingdom the distribution of food under the European Economic Community food aid scheme has been commenced; and in how many additional areas it will be commenced in each of the next two weeks.
§ Mr. JoplingMy most recent information is that there have so far been releases from intervention stores of butter or beef in the following areas:
466W
- Avon
- Somerset
- Manchester
- Kent
- Northamptonshire
- Northern Ireland
I expect releases to occur in other areas in the next two weeks, depending on the requirements of the charitable organisations concerned. Actual distribution after the products leave intervention stores is for charitable organisations themselves.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the allocated cost of the European Economic Community food aid programme is taken up by the cost of preparation or butchering of the food for distribution.
§ Mr. JoplingIt is not possible to estimate such a proportion at this stage because most other member states have not yet decided how to implement the relevant EC legislation.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of people in receipt of supplementary benefit in the United Kingdom he estimates will be entitled to benefit under the European Economic Community food aid scheme.
§ Mr. JoplingAll.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what kinds and quantities of food released under the European Economic Community food aid scheme will be (a) distributed to individuals and/or institutions in their natural state or (b) incorporated in prepared meals.
§ Mr. JoplingThe relevant products are being distributed through charitable organisations to the most needy individuals and not to institutions. I understand that most charitable organisations will be distributing butter in small packages, though incorporation into prepared meals is not ruled out. The Community legislation provides for releases of beef only for incorporation into prepared meals. The arrangements for milk and milk products are still being worked out, but I expect that the charitable organisations will wish to distribute these in the normal quantities obtained in retail shops.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help he proposes to give to charities to maintain the quality of foodstuffs for distribution under the European Economic Community food aid scheme after the release of those foodstuffs from their stores.
§ Mr. JoplingMy Department stands ready to advise the charitable organisations concerned on these questions, which already arise in any case for bodies engaged in providing foodstuffs to the disadvantaged.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, pursuant to the answer of 21 January to the hon. Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Sir P. Mills), Official Report, column 638, the precise rules governing the working of the EEC food aid scheme.
§ Mr. JoplingThe arrangements are being administered by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. I am arranging for the board leaflet setting out the conditions for release of beef and butter to charitable organisations to be placed in the Library. Arrangements for milk and milk products have not yet been finalised.