§ 22. Mr. Molyneauxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what body will have the responsibility for operating the intervention arrangements for pig meat on entry to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, the establishment of which is provided for in the European Communities Bill.
§ 24. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much production of home beef has increased since June, 1970.
§ Mr. PriorHome fed production of beef and veal has risen from a total of 891,000 tons in the year ending June, 1970, to an estimated total of over 900,000 in the year ending June,1972. With the steady expansion of the cattle breeding herd, home-fed supplies should increase appreciably from now on.
§ 32. Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied, in view of the scarcity of beef supplies, that there are adequate stocks of beef extract; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MillsI have no information indicating a shortage of supplies of beef extract.
§ 34. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent beef is now on sale to British housewives at prices of, or in excess of, £1 per pound.
§ Mr. PriorThe latest figures available to me for a variety of cuts do not indicate that beef is selling at such price levels.
§ 35. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from pensioners' organisations on beef prices; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. PriorI have received a number of representations, including some from pensioners, about the recent increase in50W beef prices. I have said that I took action to suspend tariffs on beef and veal in order to help moderate the rises, but that I am not yet satisfied that the present situation calls for regulation of exports. I am, however, continuing to keep the situation under close review.
§ 36. Mr. Ewingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the recent increase in meat prices.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend, the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) and others.
§ 41. Mr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to prohibit the export of home-produced beef.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) and others.
§ 43. Mr. Ashtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further action he is taking to prevent the rise in beef prices.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) and others.
§ 53. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current price of a pound of beef in London, Paris and Brussels.
§ Mr. PriorCurrent prices for beef in London, Paris and Brussels are not available. In view of differences in quality and definition, precise comparisons are not possible, but the latest available official quotations for some broadly similar cuts of beef are as follows:
51W
Pence per lb. 1972 United Kingdom— Sirloin, boneless … 56.3 May Rump steak … 70.8 May Paris— Entrecote steak … 77½ April Belgium— Entrecote steak … 93½ May Sources: United Kingdom—Department of Employment. France—Bulletin Mensuel de Statistique. Belgium—Moniteur Beige
57. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Minisster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the average retail price of beef in June, 1970, June, 1971, and June, 1972, respectively.
§ Mr. PriorThe following table shows average retail prices of beef, collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, on 16th June, 1970, and 22nd June, 1971. Comparable information is not yet available for June, 1972.
June, 1970 June, 1971 Beef: Home-killed p p Chuck … 31.8 36.9 Sirloin (without bone) … 44.8 52.9 Silverside (without bone)* … 41.6 49.0 Back ribs (with bone)* … 28.3 33.7 Fore ribs (with bone) … 28.0 33.0 Brisket (with bone) … 18.2 22.4 Rump steak* … 57.2 67.6 Beef: Imported, chilled Chuck … 26.4 32.6 Silverside (without bone)* … 33.8 40.9 Rump steak* … 46.2 53.2 * Or Scottish equivalent.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his official announcement made on Friday, 9th June, that he is giving consideration to the imposition of a quota system on exports if beef prices continue to rise; and to what extent on Great Britain's entry he would be enabled to operate such a system against exports of beef to the countries of the Ten.
§ Mr. PriorI made no such official announcement. I am however keeping the beef situation under close and continuing review and, while I am satisfied that in current circumstances export controls would not be justified, necessary contingency planning is in hand.
Export restrictions are prohibited by Article 34 of the Treaty of Rome, but the Community has wide powers of action to deal with disturbances of the market.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom's meat imports comes from countries where producers use antibiotics as growth stimulants.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe information readily available shows that most of our meat imports come from countries which52W either do not use antibiotics for growth purposes, or impose controls similar to our own.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional measures aimed at reversing the sharp increase in beef prices he intends to introduce.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) and others.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures to promote additional supplies of home-produced beef during the next few years.
§ Mr. PriorNo. It is clear that action already taken by the Government has given producers the confidence necessary to ensure continuing expansion of beef production.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, in the week ended 27th May, the price of English lamb rose by 10p a lb. due to the demand for exports to France; what action he proposes to take to ensure adequate supplies of lamb in Great Britain; and to what extent Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will affect the lamb supply situation.
§ Mr. PriorThe average Smithfield price for English lamb in the week ending 27th May, fell l.9p per lb. from the average price for the previous week, while information available to the Ministry on retail prices showed some weakening. Exports of lamb to France were higher in the first four months this year than in the same period last year but they still represented only a small proportion of total lamb supplies on our market. Due to Government encouragement, expansion is now taking place in the United Kingdom sheep breeding flock and I do not expect our entry into the Community to affect this expansion.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the continuing concern felt by the wholesale and retail butchers and the housewife at the rise 53W in the cost of meat, that further prices of up to 8p per lb. are envisaged, and that these price rises are due in part to the Common Market's 20 per cent. tariff on beef imports being suspended; and whether he will now take further action within the European Economic Community to safeguard British interests.
§ Mr. PriorI have nothing to add to the replies I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) and others and my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) and others.