HC Deb 19 November 1976 vol 919 cc806-9W
Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in column form for butter, cheese, beef, lamb, wheat, maize and sugar the EEC price at the Community fraction and a representative world price, respectively, on 1st January 1973 and the end of October 1976.

Mr. Bishop

There is no readily identifiable basis for measuring "world" prices and comparisons of prices of foodstuffs from different sources are made difficult by differences in quality, grading, presentation of products and stage of marketing. Subject to these reservations information about prices is given below. Most prices represent average unit values of United Kingdom imports. Non-EEC prices are expressed in sterling at its market rate

£ (nearest) per tonne cil
1st January 1973 (or nearest) End October 1976 (or nearest)
EEC threshold price(1) Non-EEC price EEC threshold price (2) Non-EEC price
Butter … … … 929 (82 per cent, tat) 387(3) 1,393 (82 per cent, fat) (7)
Cheddar cheese … … 721 470(3) 1,202 (7)
Beef … … … (4) 672(5) (4) (7)
Lamb … … … (9) 410(3) (9) 651(8)
Common wheat … … 54 40(3) (soft) 87 88(8) (soft)
Maize … … … 48 32(3) 79 76(8)
Sugar (raw) … … … 110 97(6) 190 116(6)

Notes:

  1. (1) Converted at £1 = 2.1644 units of account.
  2. (2) Converted at the Representative Rate £1=1.75560 units of account.
  3. (3) Average unit value of all United Kingdom imports in January 1973.
  4. (4) The normal arrangements for maintaining the price of beef imports at the frontier were in suspense on both dates.
  5. (5) Scotch sides, Smithfield, week ended 6th January 1973.
  6. (6) London daily price.
  7. (7) No readily identifiable representative Non-EEC price available. United Kingdom imports of butter and cheese were under special arrangements, and their price is not representative of an unregulated market.
  8. (8) Average unit value of United Kingdom imports from non-EEC countries, September 1976 before any import charges or mca.
  9. (9) No CAP regime, and hence no threshold price.

Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in column form for these commodities the present internal United Kingdom prices and the comparable prices to be expected (a) if the green pound were fully devalued to the present £ sterling parity and (b) including that £ sterling parity, the prices when the transitional period for the United Kingdom accession is completed.

Intervention prices operative in the United Kingdom in November 1976 converted to sterling at current: £ (nearest) per tonne Common intervention prices operative in November 1976 converted to sterling at the current market rate*
Representative rate Market rate*
Butter … … … … 1,006 1,441 1,826
Cheddar cheese† … … … 967 1,385 1,558
Beef‡ … … … … 944–980 1,352–1,404 1,461–1,518
Common wheat (breadmaking quality) 66 95 110
Maize† … … … … 57 81 95
White sugar … … … 194 279 279
* In the week ended 9th November, and as defined tor MCA purposes. These estimates would be altered by changes in the market rate for sterling.
† There are no intervention prices in the United Kingdom for cheese and maize. Those shown are the equivalents calculated from the intervention price for butter and skim milk, and the common intervention price for maize.
‡ Range of maximum buying-in prices for carcases.
Increases in intervention prices would cause wholesale and retail prices to rise but it is not possible to predict what the changes would be.

of exchange, and the EEC threshold prices, denominated in units of account, are converted into sterling at representative rates.

Mr. Bishop

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 4th November—[Vol. 918, c.672]. As I explained then, it is not possible realistically to predict the effect on market prices. The information set out below relates to intervention prices which are the only relevant internal prices which are directly and automatically affected by transitional or green pound arrangements.