§ Mr. VazTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of public appointments made by her Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if she will list their names.
§ Mr. JackSo far as I am aware there were no Asian or black people appointed in 1993 to the public bodies sponsored by the Ministry and listed in "Public Bodies 1993".
662Westimates of tobacco production for the next three years showing, in each case, the amount (a) consumed in the EC and (b) exported, and indicating the main export markets.
§ Mr. JackEuropean Commission figures show Community annual tobacco production since 1990 as follows:
- 1990–419,953 tonnes
- 1991–429,739 tonnes
- 1992–408,451 tonnes
- 1993–364,219 tonnes (latest estimate)
As the revised regime, which came into force from the 1993 harvest, limits tobacco support to a maximum guaranteed quantity of 350,000 tonnes, production may fall in the next three years. Producers are also being encouraged to switch to more marketable varieties.
EC consumption was estimated at around 670,000 tonnes in 1992, the latest year for which we have information. Consumption, over two thirds of which is met by imported supplies, in the next few years may depend more upon consumer demand than production.
Exports to third countries were some 200,319 tonnes in 1992 of which half went to the United States of America, Egypt, Algeria, Japan and Switzerland and a fifth to eastern European countries. As part of the regime reform, export refunds have been abolished in all but exceptional circumstances. In the future exports may decline.