§ 15. Mr. Boscawenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the tonnages of cheese imported from New Zealand in 1976.
§ Mr. Bishop30,480 metric tonnes.
§ 32. Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the world price of New Zealand cheese; what is the EEC levy on this cheese; and what percentage of the retail price goes in levy or tax.
§ Mr. BishopThere is no readily identifiable world price. Under the terms of Protocol 18 of the Treaty of Accession, New Zealand cheese is now imported at a fixed price of £527 per tonne, plus the monetary compensatory amount, which is presently £177 per tonne. Net levy rates vary according to market conditions and, at the time when most of the New Zealand cheese now being marketed was imported, were significantly below the current rate of £285 per tonne. In December, however, net levies were equivalent to about 9 per cent. of the average retail price.