HC Deb 19 November 1973 vol 864 cc318-20W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average tonnage of butter in store from intervention buying in each year since 1969 up to the latest available date for each of the nine EEC countries; in each case how many weeks' supply of butter this represented on the basis of the average weekly consumption of butter in each of the nine EEC countries; and if

AVERAGE INTERVENTION STOCKS OF BUTTER IN THE EEC
Butter in store from intervention buying
Average tonnage in store* thousand long tons Number of weeks supply lb. per head of population
1969—
Belgium/Luxembourg 6.8 4 1.5
France 133.2 15 5.9
Italy
Netherlands 53.6 80 9.3
West Germany 100.8 10 3.8
Denmark
Irish Republic
United Kingdom
1970—
Belgium/Luxembourg 8.8 5 2.0
France 75.3 10 3.3
Italy
Netherlands 33.0 48 5.6
West Germany 91.8 9 3.4
Denmark
Irish Republic
United Kingdom
1971—
Belgium/Luxembourg 0.6 .. 0.1
France 4.7 2 0.2
Italy
Netherlands 0.6 1 0.1
West Germany 19.1 2 0.7
Denmark
Irish Republic
United Kingdom
1972—
Belgium/Luxembourg 6.8 4 1.5
France 34.1 4 1.5
Itlay
Netherlands 22.9 49 3.9
West Germany 65.6 8 2.4
Denmark
Irish Republic
United Kingdom
1973—
Belgium/Luxembourg 5.7 4 1.3
France 26.2 3 1.2
Italy
Netherlands 1.1 2 0.2
West Germany 68.8 8 2.5
Denmark 12.4 15 5.6
Irish Republic
United Kingdom 22.0 3 0.9
Notes:
* For 1969 to 1972, the figures relate to the average monthly stocks held by intervention agencies as at the beginning of each month. They exclude butter receiving EEC storage aids and held in private stores. For 1973, the figures show the position at 1st October and therefore are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
† Calculated on the basis of average consumption of butter, including subsidised butter in each year.
— Nil.
… Less than half the final unit shown.
Sources:
Commission and Statistical Office of the EEC.
OECD.
National Statistical Publications.

he will also indicate what this represents in pounds per head of the respective populations.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The information is as follows: