§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to make available surplus stocks of skimmed milk powder, arising from the Common Market intervention buying system, to people in developing countries who are suffering from malnutrition.
§ Mr. Bishop:In 1974, 52,494 tonnes of skimmed milk powder from Community intervention stocks were given as food aids, and 37,000 tonnes were sold to supply long-term contracts in developing countries. In addition, the Community has recently decided to make 100,000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder available at half price from intervention stocks for distribution in developing countries.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much skimmed milk powder has been sold by the United Kingdom Intervention Board in 1975 and at what loss to the taxpayer; how much of this commodity has become unusable in storage; and what steps are being taken to prevent future intervention buying of this product in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Bishop:17,977 tons of skimmed milk powder have so far been sold in 1975. 2,832 tons were sold by tender at a price not less than £348.49 per ton and the remainder for £358.43 per ton. The average purchase price of the stocks concerned was £281.66 per ton.
No skimmed milk powder has become unusable due to deterioration in storage.
For the future the Commission has tabled suggestions for encouraging a better balance between production and consumption of milk products in times of surplus. As a result of the stocktaking of the common agricultural policy we hope to give manufacturers more incentive to look for commercial outlets rather than rely upon sales into intervention.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current stocks of skimmed milk powder in 409W the United Kingdom arising from intervention buying under the EEC common agricultural policy.
§ Mr. Bishop:On 28th March 1975 there were 10,815 tons of skimmed milk powder in United Kingdom intervention stocks.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current volume of skimmed milk powder intervention stocks in the Common Market countries.
§ Mr. Bishop:The latest information available indicates that on 3rd April 1975 intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder in the Community totalled about 433,418 tonnes.
Source and Grain Type Price per Ton cif Month of Shipment Basis £ Wheat … US 14℅ Northern Spring/DNS … 80.00 April/May MCA to buyer* French Milling Wheat … 51.65 April Final Maize … US No. 3 Yellow Corn … 59.00 April/May MCA to buyer* EEC—optional source … 50.50 April Final *MCA = monetary compensatory amount, the effect of which was to reduce the price to buyer by approximately£6 .40.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current rate of levy per ton on (a) wheat, (b) maize, and (c) other grains entering the Common Market.
§ Mr. Bishop:The common levy rates as at 3rd April 1975 for the following basic grains imported into the Community were:
Units of accounts per metric tonne £ per ton Common wheat … 29.39 17.15 Durum wheat … 14 .61 7.40 Rye … 44.74 26.11 Barley … 28.84 16.84 Oats … 29.41 17.16 Maize … 20.98 12.25 Sorghum … 23.47 13.70