Oilseeds

HC Deb 09 March 1994 vol 239 cc276-7W

Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will state(a) the price at which British wholesalers buy oilseeds per tonne, (b) what she estimates the price of oilseed per tonne would be in a free market without European Community price intervention, (c) the levels of European Community production and consumption of oilseeds, (d) the level of common agricultural policy expenditure on oilseeds subsidies and (e) the cost to the British Exchequer of European Community intervention in the oilseeds market.

Mr. Jack

The average price for rapeseed on the United Kingdom market was £149 per tonne in 1993. Sunflower seed and soya beans are produced in insignificant quantities in the United Kingdom. EC average prices were £194 per tonne¹ for sunflower seed and £178 per tonne¹ for soya beans in 1993. Under the CAP oilseeds are traded within the EC at prices which are in line with those in world markets. The EC production and consumption of oilseeds—rapeseed, sunflower seed and soya beans—in 1992 was estimated at 11.3 million tones² and 26.3 million tones² respectively, the last year for which figures are available. The level of CAP expenditure for oilseeds in 1993 was estimated at £2,261 million¹. The Exchequer cost of CAP support for oilseeds under the arable area payments scheme in the United Kingdom is estimated at £160 million—excluding the cost of oilseeds grown on set-aside land—for the 1993–94 financial year. The United Kingdom also contributes to the EC budget as a whole, which funds the cost of oilseeds support in other member states.

(¹ Source: Commission).

(² Source: Oil World).

Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will state(a) the price at which British wholesalers buy linseed per tonne, (b) what she estimates the price of linseed per tonne would be in a free market without European Community price intervention, (c) the levels of European Community production and consumption of linseed, (d) the level of common agricultural policy expenditure on linseed subsidies and (e) the cost to the British Exchequer of European Community intervention in the linseed market.

Mr. Jack

The average price for linseed on the United Kingdom market was £111 per tonne in 1993. Under the CAP linseed is traded within the EC at prices which are in line with those in world markets. The EC production and consumption of linseed in 1992 was estimated at 380,000 tonnes¹ and 492,000 tonnes¹ respectively, the last year for which figures are available. The level of CAP expenditure for linseed in 1993 was estimated at £143 million². The Exchequer cost of CAP support for linseed under the arable area payments scheme in the United Kingdom is estimated at £75 million for the 1993–94 financial year. The United Kingdom also contributes to the EC budget as a whole, which funds the cost of linseed support in other member states.

(¹ Source: Oil World).

(² Source: Commission).