§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent wheat, maize and wheat flour can now be bought cheaper outside the EEC than inside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopBecause of differences in quality, monetary fluctuations and varia-
Source and grain type Price per ton c.i.f. £ Month of shipment Basis WHEAT: United States 14 per cent. Northern Spring/DNS … 80.50 May … MCA to buyer* French milling wheat … 51.85 April … Final MAIZE: United States No. 3 Yellow Corn … 59.00 June … MCA to buyer* EEC—Optional source … 51.00 April … Final *MCA = Monetary Compensatory Amount. On 7th April the MCAs would have reduced the total cost to the buyer by about £6.40/ton for wheat and £5.61 /ton for maize. As for wheat flour, the pattern of world trade has changed in recent years, and because the quantities being offered on the open market are small, representative world prices are not available.