Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Ariculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement outlining the use made by the Intervention Board for Agricultural produce of the 12,299 tons of apples and 8,200 tons of cauliflowers which it withdrew from the market in 1982.
Mr. JoplingApples and cauliflowers are withdrawn by producers' organisations who retain ownership of the produce withdrawn and are responsible for its disposal. They are encouraged to dispose of the produce for human consumption to approved outlets, such as hospitals and old people's homes. In practice, uptake by these outlets is small because at times when withdrawal occurs supplies are plentiful and prices low.
In 1982 producers' organisations disposed of withdrawn apples and cauliflowers as follows:
Tonnes Apples Cauliflowers Human consumption 261 3 Animal feed 6,253 58 Other* 5,785 8,139 Total 12,299 8,200 Note * Produce for which no outlet could be found and disposed of ay, for example, ploughing in.