HC Deb 16 July 1974 vol 877 cc104-5W
Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of bone-in and bone-out beef have been exported to, and imported from, other EEC countries in each of the last six months.

Mr. Buchan

The information is not yet available in the form requested. However, during the period 1st January to 31st March 1974 exports of bone-in beef from the United Kingdom to other EEC countries totalled 12,355 tons and exports of bone-out beef totalled 499 tons. Imports into the United Kingdom from other EEC countries over the same period amounted to 21,761 tons of bone-in and 5,794 tons of bone-out.

Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial assistance is available from Community funds in Europe to transport beef, bought under intervention arrangements, to cold stores in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bishop

Such assistance is given at a flat rate towards the cost of transporting frozen intervention beef from one member State to another for cold storage.

Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef is now in cold stores in the United Kingdom which has been purchased under intervention arrangements.

Mr. Bishop

The Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce at present holds 73 tons of beef purchased by the board under the intervention arrangements, all of which was bought before 1st April 1974 when intervention arrangements for beef in the United Kingdom were suspended.