HC Deb 16 March 1973 vol 852 cc459-62W
Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the EEC Commission about the imposition of a supplementary import levy on lard from third countries.

Mrs. Fenner

There is at present no supplementary levy on imports of lard.

Mr. McElhone

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make representations to the EEC Commission to reduce the lard coefficient of pig carcases.

Mr. Garrett

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make representations to the EEC to substitute an ad valorem tariff on imports of lard into the United Kingdom, in place of the present levies.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that lard is appropriately listed under the Common External Tariff with pig carcases.

Mrs. Fenner

We will be discussing further in Brussels the levy treatment of lard imports.

Mr. Jay

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made by the United Kingdom Government to the EEC on behalf of the United Kingdom lard industry during entry negotiations and since.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the dates on which representations were made to his Department about the effects of EEC membership on the United Kingdom lard industry.

Mrs. Fenner

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mr. McElhone) and others.

My officials are in frequent contact with members of the lard trade on the one hand and with the European Commission on the other hand to ensure that the United Kingdom's interests as a major importer and consumer of lard are well understood. It was largely as a result of these contacts that special transitional arrangements were negotiated for lard.

Mr. Molyneaux

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of compensatory payment payable in the EEC on export to the United Kingdom of refined lard and of bulk lard.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make representations to the EEC Commission to increase the level of compensatory payments on refined lard.

Mrs. Fenner

Allowing for monetary adjustments, the net amounts currently payable on exports of all lard to the United Kingdom are equivalent to:

Country of origin Net payment £/ton*
Belgium/Luxembourg 52
Denmark 41
France 45
Germany 54
Irish Republic 21
Italy 30+
Netherlands 51
*Converted from national currencies at spot rates on 14th March 1973
+ Payment net of UK monetary import charge

My right hon. Friend does not believe that in present circumstances higher compensatory payments for refined lard are necessary or desirable.

Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import duties are now imposed on imports of lard into the United Kingdom from the United States of America.

Mrs. Fenner

The United Kingdom levy on lard from non-EEC sources applicable since 5th March after adjustment for transitional and monetary compensatory amounts is £3.49 per ton, equivalent to approximately 2 per cent. of cif values of United States supplies.

Mr. English

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether imports into West Germany of lard from East Germany are duty-free.

Mrs. Fenner

Yes.

Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the effect EEC Regulations will have on the lard industry in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Fenner

Over transition all subsidies on sendings of lard from within the Community will be removed, and the full EEC import charge will take effect on our third country supplies. A sluice gate price aleady operates, intended to prevent imports below the cost of production. The introduction of these arrangements must necessitate some adjustments by United Kingdom lard interests.

Mr. George Grant

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make representations to the EEC about the quality of lard exported to the United Kingdom for human consumption.

Mrs. Fenner

I have no information suggesting that this needs to be done.