HC Deb 24 July 1987 vol 120 cc622-3W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the information on the EEC tomato regime given in his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 8 May 1985, Official Report, column 453.

Mr. Donald Thompson

EEC production aid rates for tomato products are published in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities. Details for the marketing years 1985–86 and 1986–87 are listed in the following volumes which are in the Library of the House:

L205 of 3.8.85 (Regulation 2222/85);

L179 of 3.7.86 (Regulation 2077/86).

The cost to the Community budget for production aid for tomato products was 528.6 mecu in 1985–86 and 260.4 mecu in 1986–87. No surplus tomato products have been stored at Community expense.

The information in respect of fresh tomatoes is as follows:

Compensation for withdrawals
Mecu
1984–85 2.60
1985–86 89.56
Export refunds
Mecu
1983–84 1.68
1984–85 1.73
1985–86 1
1 Figures not yet available.