§ Mr. Maclennanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account he takes, in seeking to secure export licences for cereals, of the likely effects upon other sectors of production in the industry.
§ Mr. GummerThe quantities of cereals for which export licences are issued is determined weekly by the Commission in consultation with the cereals management committee. In deciding upon the quantities to be exported, full account is taken of the possible implications for the cereals and other sectors of the industry.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what it the total quantity of grain produced in each of the European Economic Community countries in 1986 and also the total amount of co-responsibility levy paid by each member state in pounds sterling.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1987, c. 683]The cereals co-responsibility levy is payable when grain from the 1986 harvest is processed, exported or taken into intervention. Grain from the 1985 crop year entering such outlets in 1986 was not subject to levy.
1986 cereals production (provisional) million tonnes Cereals co-responsibility levy paid by each Member State to end November 1986 1 £ million Belgium 2.3 1.6 Denmark 7.9 0.5 Germany 25.6 5.4 Greece 4.9 0.3 France 49.2 2.8 Ireland 1.8 0.2 Italy 17.9 3.7 Luxembourg 0.1 — Netherlands 1.2 0.2 United Kingdom 24.4 3.5 Portugal 1.6 2 Spain 15.6 — Total 152.5 18.2 Source: EC Commission. 1 Latest breakdown available. 2 Not subject to levy.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the definition of a small farmer which will be used in establishing who will receive part of the 120 million ECU/£75 million in cereal co-responsibility refunds; how much of this total will be received by British small farmers and when; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1987 c. 683]According to EC regulations, small producers of cereals who have borne the cereals co-responsibility levy are eligible for the aid. In defining the recipients of the aid within its own boundaries a member state is required to take into account the area of a holding under cereals and/or the utilised agricultural area of a holding and/or the proportion of a holding's incomes which is derived from cereals. The definition of the recipients of this aid in the United Kingdom is currently under consideration and we hope to be able to make an announcement shortly. The United Kingdom has been allocated 5.35 million ecus (£3.35 million) of the aid, which is to be paid out before 31 December 1987.
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§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average ex-farm price of wheat received by (a) British farmers, (b) French farmers, (c) German farmers and (d) the EEC generally in 1979, 1984, 1985 and 1986, in pounds sterling.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 5 March c. 683]The information requested by my hon. Friend is not yet available for the 1985–86 marketing years. I set out below the information for the 1979–80, 1983–84 and 1984–85 marketing years. Ex-farm prices for the European Community as a whole are not available.
Producer Prices for Wheat £/tonne1 1979–80 1983–84 1984–85 United Kingdom 95.83 127.10 122.00 West Germany 122.18 125.75 118.83 France 88.03 101.04 99.05 EC2 91.44 120.16 119.01 1 Exchange rates based on average spot rate for marketing years except for EC prices which have been converted at the average green rate for the marketing years. 2 Average intervention price for common wheat. Source: "Agricultural Situation in the Community 1981" and 1986 reports.