§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can now list the categories of animal or poultry food which in future must contain a proportion of surplus EEC skimmed milk powder together with his estimates of the tonnage of such powder that will need to be imported into the United Kingdom, together with the increased costs of feed.
§ Mr. PeartThe scheme approved by the Council of Ministers on 6th March requires the provision of a security in respect of certain vegetable proteins imported from third countries and in respect of certain Community-produced vegetable proteins which are eligible for Community subsidies. The security is 497W to be released upon presentation of proof of purchase of skimmed milk powder for incorporation in feedingstuffs for animals other than young calves. Detailed arrangements specifying the amount of the security and the volume of skimmed milk powder required to be purchased in order to release the security have yet to be determined. It is not therefore possible to estimate the precise effect of the scheme on feed costs or the quantity of imports likely to be required. But it is clear that the effect on United Kingdom costs and the quantities of powder required will be substantially less than would have been the case under the Commission's earlier proposal for compulsory incorporation.