HC Deb 26 January 1977 vol 924 cc671-2W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report for each class of agricultural product subject to common agricultural policy particulars of the monetary amounts and accession compensatory amounts currently payable on EEC exports to the United Kingdom and on United Kingdom imports from

Item (and CCT No.) ACA (£/100 kg.) MCA (£/100 kg.)
Common wheat (10.01A) … … 1.445 2.248
Barley (10.03) … … 1.360 1.970
Maize (10.05B) … … 1.297 1.993
White sugar (17.01A) … … 0 6.626
Butter (82 per cent.—84 per cent. fat content)(04.03A) … … 36.70 35.31*
Cheddar cheese (04.04 EI(b)1(bb)) … … 12.76 33.95*
Boneless frozen beef (02.01AII(a)Z(dd)22(ccc) … … 12.63† 37.57
* Special rates of monetary compensatory amounts apply to imports of butter and cheese from New Zealand. These are £21.42 per 100kg. £18.50 per 100kg. Respectively.
† Basic ACA applicable to imports from third countries.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report for each class of agricultural product subject to CAP policies particulars of any quantitative restrictions or charges, other than common levies, but including protective duties where applicable, levied on products which are subject to a common levy on importations from non-EEC countries, listing these charges in terms of the £ sterling at the current market rate of exchange.

Mr. Bishop

Of the major CAP commodities subject to levies on imports from non-EEC countries, only beef has a protective duty, which is currently 16 per cent. in the United Kingdom, increasing to 20 per cent. on completion of transition to the Community's CCT at the beginning of the 1977–78 beef marketing year. Beef is also the only major CAP commodity currently subject to import restrictions. Restrictions were imposed in July 1974 under the safeguard clause to deal with falling Community prices. Since then the restrictions have been progressively relaxed and will be replaced on 1st April

non-EEC countries, all in terms of the £ sterling at the current market rate of exchange.

Mr. Bishop

Accession compensatory amounts are actually expressed in sterling after conversion at the representative rate. The aca figures in the table below have been converted to sterling at the current market rate of exchange (£1 = 1.28571 ua) and are those applicable on 25th January. United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts are fixed in sterling and those shown below are rates currently in operation.

1977 by the Community's new import régime for beef and veal, based on variable levies. There is a GATT quota of 38,500 tons for which levy free access is provided. Beef from some African countries may enter the Community free of duty and at a reduced rate of levy. The price of beef varies widely, depending upon its quality and cut and the availability of supplies. It is therefore inappropriate and would be misleading to translate the current 16 per cent. ad valorem duty into £ sterling terms per tonne.