§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on beef prices in the United Kingdom of decisions by other EU countries to restrict the import of French beef. [144322]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 8 January 2001]: I do not anticipate that restrictions on the import of French beef introduced by some EU member states will have a significant effect on UK market prices. UK beef prices firmed during December and are currently about 2.5 per cent. down on this time last year. During November 2000 prices were around 10 per cent. down on the same time the previous year.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the loss of income to British farmers consequent on the French Government's ban on the import of beef cattle from Britain. [145879]
§ Ms QuinNo additional loss of income arises as a result of the French ban on live beef cattle from the UK because the export of live cattle is also banned under EU rules. However, British farmers will have suffered a loss of income as a result of the French ban on British beef produced in accordance with the EU approved Date Based Export Scheme (DBES). Exact amounts cannot be quantified. It is necessary to take into account the difficulties in operating DBES and changes in exchange rates, but France was previously the largest export market for british beef and the French ban is likely to have affected the confidence of potential customers in other countries.