Beef

HC Deb 23 May 1975 vol 892 cc723-4W

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the EEC spent in 1974 taking beef into intervention; what is the estimate for 1975; what is the United Kingdom contribution in each case; how this compared with the amount spent by the United Kingdom on supporting the production of beef in each of the years 1970 to 1974, and compares with the estimate for 1975; and what were the differences between the prices of Common Market, British and non-Market beef at the time the EEC ban on imports was imposed.

Mr. Peart

Expenditure from Community funds on intervention measures in the beef sector in 1974 was £110.5 million^*. This includes the cost of aids for private storage as well as expenditure resulting from the buying of beef by intervention agencies. The corresponding budget entry for 1975 is £53.75 million^*. The United Kingdom contribution to the Community as a whole was 11.04 per cent. in 1974 and will be 13.57 per cent. in 1975.

Expenditure by the United Kingdom Exchequer on support for beef production in the financial years April-March was as follows:—

	£ million
1970–71	83.5
1971–72	59.1
1972–73	60.2
1973–74	65.1
1974–75 (forecast)	145.0

No estimate for 1975–76 is available.

These figures all include calf, beef cow and hill cow subsidy of which increased payments were made in 1974–75. The figures for 1970–73 include payments made under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme and the 1974–75 figures include payments of beef premium.

Imports into the EEC have at no time been banned. The Community continues to import supplies from third countries under the GATT quota and other licensing arrangements, especially those associated with the Lomé Convention. No direct comparison can be made between the market prices for beef in the EEC, United Kingdom and non-EEC countries on 16th July 1974, the date on which EEC restrictions on the import of beef were introduced, because of the wide difference in the types, qualities and presentations or cuts of beef traded.

(Notes)

^*converted from units of account at £1=2.4 u.a.