Chrysanthemums (White Rust)

HC Deb 07 December 1976 vol 922 c187W

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ban the import of Dutch chrysanthemums to the United Kingdom in order to halt the importation of white rust, in the light of the potential cost to British growers of up to £1 million if this disease is allowed to take hold; and if he will consider taking urgent action to prevent the importation of rooted cutting material from Holland immediately.

Mr. Strang

We already restrict such imports from any country in which the disease is know to occur. They must not

		Calendar year 1974 £ million	Calendar year 1975 £ million	1st January to 31st October 1976 £ million
Monetary Compensatory Amounts paid on imports:
Intra-Community Trade	…	57.1	170.3	66.8*
Third Country Trade	…	1.6	33.7	38.6
		58.7	204.0	105.4*
Less
Export levies on Intra-Community Trade	…	5.7	14.1	19.5
Net Receipts	…	53.0	189.9	85.9*
United Kingdom Food Subsidies:
Paid by Exchequer	…	395.0	632.2	377.1
FEOGA Contribution	…	10.5	19.5	11.6
Total	…	405.5	651.7	388.7
* Since 17th May 1976 m.c.a.s. on intra-Community trade have, except in the case of imports from Italy, been paid in the exporting country.