HC Deb 25 January 1974 vol 867 cc361-3W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom applications have been received for conversion from dairy to beef production under the terms of the EEC scheme.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Up to 31st December 1973, the latest date for which details are available, 2,062 producers in the United Kingdom had submitted applications.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the amounts purchased and the prices paid under the intervention arrangements for beef in each EEC State in 1973–74 to the latest available date.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Although intervention on beef has taken place in some member States no details of the quantities involved are available. The prices payable vary according to quality and presentation and are set out in the annex to Commission Regulation No. 2096/73.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rise in the United Kingdom beef guide price is entailed by the next stage of alignment of United Kingdom beef prices with those of the EEC ; and what further rise would be involved if current proposals for a 10 per cent. rise in EEC guide prices are accepted.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The increase in the present United Kingdom guide price of £16.43 per live cwt. would be £0.76p if the current EEC guide price remained unchanged. A further £1.72 per live cwt. would be added if the EEC guide price were increased by 10 per cent.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the United Kingdom intervention price for beef after the next stage of alignment with the existing EEC guide price and with an EEC guide price 10 per cent. higher, respectively.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Unless other changes are made to the support system, intervention prices for carcase meat from the highest grades of cattle to which the permanent intervention arrangements apply would be equivalent to £16.70 per live cwt. and £18.40 per live cwt. respectively.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current market price for beef ; and how this compares with anticipated intervention price levels, after the next stage of alignment with existing EEC guide price, and with an EEC guide price 10 per cent. higher.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The current United Kingdom average market price for clean cattle is about £18.30 per live cwt., although there are considerable variations around this average, according to quality and at different markets. A direct comparison between this price and the intervention prices would not be meaningful.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the levies and duties, respectively, on beef imports from third countries if market prices were the same as intervention prices, first in the case that

Full Commonwealth Developing Commonwealth
Boneless cuts 11 per cent. ad valorem 8 per cent. ad valorem Free
Other £0.1866 per cwt. 8 per cent. ad valorem Free
+8 per cent. ad valorem

The rates of duty would not be affected by a change in the guide price. As Community rates of levy are dependent upon movements of world prices they are not capable of forecast, nor can monetary compensatory amounts, which depend upon currency movements, be foreseen.

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