§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef has been sold into intervention in the United Kingdom in each of the last five weeks.
§ Mr. BishopSubject to verification, the following quantities of beef have been taken in store:
Week ending 13th March 12 tons. Week ending 20th March 129 tons. Week ending 27th March 1,696 tons. Week ending 3rd April 2,306 tons. Information about deliveries in the week ending 10th April is not yet fully available.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what price beef is presently sold into intervention; and what is the average market price for beef presently in the United Kingdom.
597W
§ Mr. BishopThe actual intervention price for beef depends on the grade and quality of the carcase; but the current average buying-in price is 44.24 p/lb. from which the variable premium applicable at the date of slaughter is deducted. In the week ending 3rd April 1976 the average market price for certified cattle in the United Kingdom was equivalent to 42.17 p/lb.; the target price was equal to 44.17 p/lb., giving a United Kingdom variable premium of 2 p/lb. This meant that buying-in prices for beef slaughtered for intervention in Great Britain that week were subject to a reduction of 2.29 p/lb.