§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much per live hundredweight British farmers get for their fat cattle in comparison with the rest of the EEC producers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopNo directly comparable figures are available for the returns which producers in the United Kingdom and the other EEC member States receive for their fat cattle. Differences in national classification systems make accurate comparison difficult and the relationship between prices in different countries varies from week to week. However, a reference price for all cattle—including cows—is calculated weekly for each member State. In the week ending 26th February 1976 these prices were as follows:
.per live cwt Belgium … 31.34 France … 30.05 Italy … 33.08 Luxembourg … 28.72 Netherlands … 27.31 West Germany … 27.93 Denmark … 26.13 Irish Republic (a) … 26.19 (22.95) United Kingdom (a) … 25.47 (21.90) In the United Kingdom returns to producers of clean cattle certified under the Beef Premium Scheme at the end of February 1976 were raised from the average market price, by means of a fixed headage payment and a variable premium to a target price of £25.75 per live cwt. Arrangements for the 1976 beef marketing year were announced in my right hon. Friends statement to the House yesterday.
Note: (a) The relevant transitional compensatory amount has been added. Unadjusted prices are in brackets. Prices have been converted at the reference rate of exchange £1 = 1.79560 units of account
Source MLC Weekly European Market Survey.