§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the total amounts of fruit and vegetables destroyed by the European Community in 1991–92; what was the purpose of such destruction; and when comparable figures will be produced for 1992–93.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 18 April 1994]: The information, produced by the Commission, on the destruction of fruit and vegetables withdrawn from the market in 1991–92 is as follows:
Product Quantity destroyed (tonnes) Cauliflowers 40,503 Apricots 93,653 Tomatoes 49,370 Aubergines 543 Nectarines 36,362 Peaches 336,992 Lemons 13,445 Pears 634 Grapes 291 Apples 26,134 Satsumas 1— Mandarins 2,723 Clementines 1,654 Oranges 154,943 1—No withdrawals. The EC fruit and vegetable regime provides growers with compensation for withdrawing produce from the market when prices fall below a certain level. This produce may be disposed of by several means with destruction being a last resort once all other alternative uses have been exhausted. The Government consider that the system sustains overproduction and are therefore pressing the Commission for a radical reform of the arrangements.
We expect the Commission to produce comparable figures for 1992–93 shortly.
446Wand (iv) her estimate for 1994 for (a) the sheep annual premium, (b) the suckler cow premium and (c) the beef special premium.
§ Mr. JackThe table shows expenditure by financial year under the sheep annual premium, the suckler cow premium and the beef special premium schemes in nominal terms and at constant 1991–92 prices.