HC Deb 03 May 1976 vol 910 c224W
Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost, on an annual basis, of holding in official intervention stocks the 2,965,000 tonnes of cereals, 1,321,433 tonnes of milk products, 220,000 tonnes of beef, 66,000 tonnes of olive oil and 6,000 tonnes of rapeseed which at 27th April were so held; and what is the estimated shelf life in intervention for human consumption of each commodity.

Mr. Bishop

Member States are reimbursed by the Community for the cost of holding intervention stocks at standard rates. It is estimated that the amount the Community would pay for holding these quantities for a year would be 101.4 million units of account or £42.2 million converted at the Communiy budget rate of 2.4 ua=£1 sterling. No specific shelf life is laid down, but each member State is obliged to keep under review the quality of stocks held in its intervention stores.