§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to release beef now held in intervention stores on to the British market; and in what quantity.
§ Mr. BishopAll the beef currently held in United Kingdom intervention stores is likely to be offered on to the Community market during 1976. At present only beef stored before 31st December 1975 can be released. Stocks at the end of 1975 amounted to 1,105 tons, of which 788 tons have since been contracted for sale.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of the storage of a side of best beef weighing 250 lb. in cold store for six months in Great Britain.
§ Mr. BishopThe rates paid for cold storage of beef are a matter for negotiation between the interests concerned. For intervention beef the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce negotiates rates with representatives of the cold store trade. For commercial reasons, the details are not published.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of best beef and cow beef, respectively, are held in store as intervention stocks in Great Britain.
§ Mr. BishopSubject to verification, it is estimated that there were 8,297 tons168W of intervention beef in cold stores in Great Britain on 1st May. The whole of this beef was derived from steers or clean heifers.