§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has sponsored within the last 12 months to assess the safety of microwaves in respect of food cooked therein; what research is either in progress or planned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe research to assess the safety of food cooked in domestic microwave ovens commissioned within the last 12 months is as follows:
§ Mr. MacleanThe annual tonnage of bananas imported into the United Kingdom as a percentage of the European Community total in each of the last five years is as follows:
United Kingdom imports of bananas as a percentage of total European Community imports per cent. 11984 16.7 11985 16.5 1986 13.2 1987 14.0 1988 13.5 1 Excluding Spain and Portugal. Source: Eurostat.
§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total tonnage of imports of bananas in each of the last five years from(a) Africa, Caribbean and Pacific suppliers, (b) Latin America and (c) other suppliers.
§ Mr. MacleanThe total tonnage of imports of bananas into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years from(a) African, Caribbean and Pacific signatories to the Lomé convention, (b) dollar area countries (incorporating Latin American sources) and (c) other suppliers are as follows:
695W
1984 tonnes 1985 tonnes 1986 tonnes 1987 tonnes 1988 tonnes African, Caribbean and Pacific 184,463 222,678 275,836 271,620 322,327 Dollar area (including Latin American countries) 120,854 99,363 59,541 80,604 61,654 Other suppliers 4,010 1,506 7,619 7,193 4,016 TOTAL 309,327 323,547 342,996 359,417 387,997 Source: Her Majesty's Customs General Trade Tabulation Sheets.
§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria the banana trade advisory committee take into account in its monthly meetings to assess the supply and demand position on imported bananas.
§ Mr. MacleanIn assessing the supply position the banana trade advisory committee considers estimates of future sendings from all ACP and EC origins given either by the traditional supplying countries or by the main importing companies. The committee also keeps in mind the minimum figure for imports of bananas from the dollar area guaranteed to the smaller banana importers. On demand, estimates are based on advice from all sectors of the trade and take account of the Government's own rising minimum supply requirement figures which are published for the year ahead.
§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with European Community Ministers concerning banana import policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanNone. But my officials have been in contact with their counterparts in other European Community countries and the European Commission. We wish to ensure that policy from 1993 onwards on bananas takes account of consumer interests and of the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market, and is consistent with our commitments to our Caribbean suppliers.
§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on banana import policy in the last 12 months; and what reply he gave.
§ Mr. MacleanWe have received representations from a wide variety of interests in the past 12 months, including from United Kingdom trade, ripener and retailer interests and from our supplying countries. Our responses have reflected the balance of interests that is struck in our banana policy—the fulfilment of commitments to our traditional suppliers, the improvement of competition in the market and the improvement of banana quality.