HC Deb 24 July 1975 vol 896 cc273-4W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the current levels of intervention stocks within the EEC of beef, (b) butter and (c) skimmed milk powder.

Mr. Bishop

As I told the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor) on 16th July, the following are the quantities, based on Commission figures, of food commodities currently held in Community intervention stores:

Commodity Tonnes
Beef(1) 271,285
Wheat(2) 2,480,000
Butter 74,000
Skimmed milk powder 790,000
Cheese 18,000(3)
NOTES
(1) At at end June.
(2) Includes wheat for animal feed.
(3) Intervention arrangements for cheese are available only in Italy (for the Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano varieties).

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the result of the two-day meeting of agricultural Ministers in Brussels which ended on 22nd July 1975; what was discussed; what decisions were taken; and whether steps were proposed to deal with the growing beef mountain.

Mr. Bishop

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House today.