Food Imports (Hansard, 27 March 1975)

§ Mr. Wiggin
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of imports of temperate foodstuffs into the United Kingdom during each of the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Strang
The latest available information on imports of indigenous type foodstuffs is published in Table 241 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1974 which is available in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what were the total net imports—imports / exports—into (a) Great Britain and (b) the EEC of 1. cereals; 2. meat; 3. milk products; and 4. sugar; in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, showing these figures in actual quantities and as a percentage of the total consumption in each commodity in each case.

§ Mr. Clinton Davis:
I have been asked to reply.
As the production data is available only for crop years the answer is given on that basis in the following table. The data for EEC member countries may not be strictly comparable due to differences of definition, coverage, etc. Great Britain is not separately distinguished in the figures.
313W

1970–71║ 1971–72║ 1972–73║ 1973–74║ 1974–75 (forecast) ║

Net imports‡ thousand tons Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§ Net imports‡ thousand tons Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§ Net imports‡ thousand tons Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§ Net imports‡ thousand tons Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§ Net imports‡ thousand tons Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§

(a) United Kingdom:

Cereals 8,915 41 8,009 35 8,341 35 7,000 32 7,004 30

Meat 900 25 973 27 911 25 693 20 611 18

of which beef and veal 230 19 254 22 247 22 189 17 180 14

Milk products—

butter 397 86 368 83 354 78 297 78 409 90

cheese 155 53 161 50 140 44 98 34 134 38

skimmed milk powder 4 4 —22 —22 —53 —45 —82 —158 —13 —15

Sugar 1,915 67 1,758 61 1,705 65 1,601 62 2,170 78

thousand tonnes thousand tonnes thousand tonnes thousand tonnes thousand tonnes

(b) EEC:

Cereals 21,433 20 11,862 11 10,718 9 .. .. .. ..

Meat 837^* 6^* 1,070^* 8^* .. .. .. .. .. ..

of which beef and veal .. .. .. .. 695† 11† 708† 11† .. ..

Milk products—

butter† —196^* —18 —191^* —18 150 8 —260 —18 5 0.3

skimmed milk powder† —223^* —23 —137^* —14 —81 —5 —260 —16 —280 —18

Sugar —688^* —11 819 8 600 6 1,027 10 .. ..

^* Six original members.

† Calendar year—earlier year of split year shown in heading.

‡ Net imports are imports less exports.

§ New supplies are home production plus net imports.

The years referred to are crop years.

.. Not available.

Sources:

United Kingdom derived from Annual Review of Agriculture 1975, Command 5977. EEC derived from Annual Reports on the Agricultural Situation in the EEC 1973 and 1974.

314W 315W

	1970–71║	1971–72║	1972–73║	1973–74║	1974–75 (forecast) ║
	Net imports‡ thousand tons	Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§	Net imports‡ thousand tons	Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§	Net imports‡ thousand tons	Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§	Net imports‡ thousand tons	Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§	Net imports‡ thousand tons	Net imports as percentage to total new supplies§
(a) United Kingdom:
Cereals	8,915	41	8,009	35	8,341	35	7,000	32	7,004	30
Meat	900	25	973	27	911	25	693	20	611	18
of which beef and veal	230	19	254	22	247	22	189	17	180	14
Milk products—
butter	397	86	368	83	354	78	297	78	409	90
cheese	155	53	161	50	140	44	98	34	134	38
skimmed milk powder	4	4	—22	—22	—53	—45	—82	—158	—13	—15
Sugar	1,915	67	1,758	61	1,705	65	1,601	62	2,170	78
	thousand tonnes		thousand tonnes		thousand tonnes		thousand tonnes		thousand tonnes
(b) EEC:
Cereals	21,433	20	11,862	11	10,718	9	..	..	..	..
Meat	837^*	6^*	1,070^*	8^*	..	..	..	..	..	..
of which beef and veal	..	..	..	..	695†	11†	708†	11†	..	..
Milk products—
butter†	—196^*	—18	—191^*	—18	150	8	—260	—18	5	0.3
skimmed milk powder†	—223^*	—23	—137^*	—14	—81	—5	—260	—16	—280	—18
Sugar	—688^*	—11	819	8	600	6	1,027	10	..	..
^* Six original members.
† Calendar year—earlier year of split year shown in heading.
‡ Net imports are imports less exports.
§ New supplies are home production plus net imports.
The years referred to are crop years.
.. Not available.
Sources:
United Kingdom derived from Annual Review of Agriculture 1975, Command 5977. EEC derived from Annual Reports on the Agricultural Situation in the EEC 1973 and 1974.