HC Deb 18 July 1974 vol 877 cc242-4W
Mr. Gwynoro Jones

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he has been informed by the Commission of the European Communities of the successful United Kingdom applicants for Community grants towards individual capital projects under the 1973 programme.

Mr. Peart

Yes. The Commission has decided on its initial list of successful applicants under the 1973 programme for individual capital projects under Regulation (EEC) No. 17/64 and has notified the individual beneficiaries and the member States concerned. Forty-one beneficiaries from the United Kingdom will receive grants totalling £5,006,595. There will be a further list of notifications shortly.

Payments to individual beneficiaries, which will come from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guid-

1972 1973 Main overseas supplies
(tons) (tons)
Potatoes (new and other*) … 267,671 225,676 Cyprus, Egypt, the Canaries and Spain.
Seed potatoes … … … 8,501 2,858 Republic of Ireland.
Potato products:
Canned … … … 11,519 7,665 Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland. Sweden and Denmark.
Crisps … … … 639 670 Republic of Ireland.
Flour, meal, flakes and granules 10,130 13,199 Canada, Republic of Ireland and U.S.A.
*Imports of maincrop potatoes are normally prohibited. The import ban was lifted only for a short time in 1973 and imports during that period were minimal

Official trade figures do not identify the purposes for which imported potatoes and potato products are used but it is estimated from returns submitted voluntarily to the Ministry by manufacturers that in 1972 and 1973 about 23,000 tons and 21,500 tons respectively of imported potatoes were used in the manufacture of potato products.

Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of potatoes and their products imported into the United Kingdom in 1972 and 1973 for use in the manufacture of potato crisps; where they came from; and what percentage of the potato crisp market they represented.

Mr. Buchan

It is estimated from returns submitted voluntarily to the Ministry by manufacturers that in 1972 and 1973 about 12,000 tons and 16,000 tons respectively of imported potatoes were used in the manufacture of potato crisps, representing between 3 and 4 per cent. of total usage of potatoes in crisp production. Cyprus, Egypt, the Canaries and Spain are our principal overseas suppliers of potatoes but official trade

ance and Guarantee Fund, will be channelled through the Votes of the appropriate United Kingdom Agriculture Departments.