HC Deb 04 April 1979 vol 965 c875W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the tonnage of wheat, including breakdown into principal types, imported into the United Kingdom from outside the EEC during 1978, together with the respective total of levies collected and his estimate of the additional cost per ton to bakeries.

Mr. Bishop

Imports of wheat into the United Kingdom from outside the EEC during 1978 were as follows:

Tonnes
Total wheat of which: 1,950,255
Soft 105,999
Semi-hard 1,544
Hard 1,804,844
Other (including durum and denatured wheat) 37,844

The net revenue derived from import levies on wheat during the same period was £72.0 million. On the basis of the average United Kingdom net import levy on wheat, it is estimated that the levy represents an extra charge on average baker's flour costs of just under £20 per tonne.