§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the level of subsidies paid by the EEC to malt exporters and the measures taken by the authorities to avoid abuse of the system.
§ Mr. BishopSubsidies paid by the EEC on malt exports are calculated from the differences between world and EEC prices of barley and are intended to enable exporters to compete effectively on world markets. Malt export licences which are valid for up to 12 months are usually taken out in June and July each year when maltsters arrange their forward contracts. The export refund available to exporters in the original Six526W was up to £36.24 per tonne on malt exported in 1975–76 to third countries against prefixed export licences taken out in June-July 1975. In the United Kingdom these refunds are subject to transitional and monetary adjustments and the maximum received by an exporter would be £18.01 per tonne. No subsidy is payable on exports covered by current licences for immediate export.
EEC Regulation 413/76 of 25th February 1976 reduced from six months to a maximum of one month the period during which malt can be held under Customs control prior to export. Other changes in the malt regulations are currently under consideration.