HC Deb 04 February 1988 vol 126 cc724-5W
26. Mr. Marland

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of the cereals surplus in the United Kingdom and the European Community.

Mr. MacGregor

For the current cereals marketing year, Community consumption of home-produced-grain is provisionally estimated at 133 million tonnes and production at 153 million tonnes. Intervention stocks at the beginning of the year stood at 14.3 million tonnes.

For the same period United Kingdom consumption of home-produced grain is estimated at 16.7 million tonnes and production at 21.5 million tonnes. Intervention stocks at the beginning of the marketing year stood at 2.3 million tonnes.

44. Mr. Curry

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the size of the cereals surplus in the United Kingdom and the European Community in five years' time.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Consumption in the Community of home-produced grain is around 130 million tonnes and forecast to remain stable.

The latest estimates of production trends produced by European Statistical Office are as follows:

Million tones
1988 168
1989 171
1990 174
1991 178

These figures are based on an extrapolation of current trends. Intervention stocks of grain in the Community at the beginning of the current marketing year stood at 14.3 million tonnes.

No such forecasts are available separately for the United Kingdom.