§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to whom surplus apples in the EEC are being distributed; what is the subsidy per pound paid to farmers; and to what other uses the surplus is being put;
(2) what is the size of the apple mountain in the EEC; and what will be the estimated cost to the EEC Budget as a whole and to the United Kingdom in particular.
§ Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the British contribution to the stockpiling of apples currently being proposed by the Common Market.
§ Mr. StrangThe Community apple crop for 1975 is provisionally estimated at 6.8 million tonnes or only some 0.2 million tonnes over the 1970–74 average. The market régime allows producer organisations to withdraw apples from the market at low predetermined prices; subject to certain conditions they are compensated from Community funds. Disposal of such produce is through410W specified channels: charities, schools, distillation into alcohol and use for animal feed, although with such perishable produce some inevitably becomes unfit for consumption.
It is difficult at this early stage to estimate the total quantity that may be withdrawn this season. So far it is estimated that some 100,000 tonnes have been withdrawn.
Withdrawals in recent years have been estimated as:
Production million tonnes Withdrawals million tonnes 1971–72 6.9 0.2 1972–73 6.0 0.002 1973–74 7.4 0.4 1974–75 5.8 0.03 Community compensation will vary with a number of factors but the October estimate for Golden Delicious is about 5.5 UAs per 100 kilos—about 1.4p. per lb. On this basis withdrawals of 100,000 tonnes would involve compensation of about 5.5 million UAs—£3.1 million—of which the United Kingdom contribution would be about £0.4 million.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheres and Food whether he will give an assurance that he will not agree to any proposal by the EEC to introduce import control on apples from non-EEC countries, particularly from the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. StrangThe Commission is considering the apple supply position and whether any special action is justified, It would be inappropriate to comment before it has reported to the Council of Ministers.