HC Deb 19 January 1978 vol 942 cc335-6W
30. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculure, Fisheries and Food what were the total imports of beef from the Republic of Ireland for 1977 compared with 1976.

Mr. Bishop

The latest available statistics are for the period January to November. United Kingdom imports of beef and veal from the Irish Republic during this period were 116,000 tonnes in 1977 compared with almost 70,000 tonnes in the same period in 1976.

31. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Irish cattle have been imported through Holyhead during the last three months.

Mr. Bishop

The cattle ferry service from Dublin to Holyhead closed at the end of November 1975. Since that date the Ministry has no record of any cattle imported through Holyhead except for a few cattle, which travelled by the normal ferry service, destined for exhibition at the Royal Smithfield Show.

37. Mr. Henderson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to reduce Irish beef imports to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bishop

My right hon. Friend will take account of the impact of trade factors on United Kingdom beef production in developing the Government's overall strategy for agricultural support in the next few months.

41. Mr. Boscawen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of monetary compensatory amounts payable on live and dead stock imports from the Irish Republic.

Mr. John Silkin

The net monetary compensatory amounts payable on such imports from the Irish Republic in the week commencing 9th January 1978 were as follows:

per kg liveweight
Live cattle 15.44p
Live pigs (other than sows over 160kg) 12.18p
Live fowls 2.81p
Fresh and chilled carcase beef 29.33p
Fresh and chilled pigmeat 15.84p
Fresh and chilled oven ready chicken 4.04