§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated current size of the EEC stock of herbage seed; and how this compares with the corresponding figure over the past three years.
§ Mr. StrangThis is not a sector for which the Commission has published any statistics or estimates of Community stocks. Such information as is available to our Department suggests that present EEC stocks of all species might be of the order of about 65,000 tonnes, compared with rather more than 40,000 tonnes in 1974 and rather less than that level when the Community was enlarged in 1973.
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§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present operation of the EEC herbage seed subsidy; what impact the subsidy level has upon the extent of cropping, in view of the fact that it is not announced until sowing has been concluded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangNo. We have asked the Commission to make early proposals to bring the arrangements more into line with the requirements of the market both as regards the overall level of herbage seed production and its distribution between different species.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current fortunes and prospects of the United Kingdom herbage seed industry, in the light of EEC regulations.
§ Mr. StrangTransition to the EEC régime has three main implications for herbage seed production in the United Kingdom. First, for most species, marketing of uncertified seed—which is already prohibited in the original member States of the Community—will be prohibited in the United Kingdom from July 1976. Second, we are phasing in the EEC's common external tariff so that by 1977 the level will be 6 per cent. for grasses and 4 per cent. for clovers, compared with our previous 10 per cent. tariff on all imports from non-Commonwealth countries. Finally under the Community's régime our crops can qualify for the flat-rate production subsidy payable on most species of certified herbage seed.
We are seeking improvements in the operation of the EEC herbage seed subsidy so as to assist the industry in the difficulties which it has lately been experiencing, and which have arisen because a build up in supplies of certain species, notably perennial ryegrass, has coincided with a decline in demand for both agricultural and amenity uses. More generally, however, such situations can best be resolved, and where possible avoided, by close and continuous liaison between the organisations representing merchants, breeders, growers and users of seed. Our seeds industry already has well tried arrangements for this purpose, and similar machinery has latterly been developing 569W within the enlarged Community. Effective co-operation of this kind can do much to underwrite the future well being of the industry both in the United Kingdom and throughout the EEC.