HC Deb 15 December 1980 vol 996 c43W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the exports of wheat., barley, flour, malt, butter, oil, beef and wine by the EEC to the Soviet Union in the 10 months since the invasion of Afghanistan were each greater than in the previous year when the Council of Ministers decided on 15 January that such exports should be restricted to traditional levels; what was the manner in which the Council of Ministers intended its decision should be adhered to; and if, in particular, he will explain the role of the EEC Commission in the carrying out of the policy decided on 15 January.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 December.—[Vol.996, c. 778–79.]

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the substantial increase in the sales of wheat and barley to the Soviet Union since the invasion of Afghanistan conforms with the decisions of the Council of Ministers on 15 January that such exports should be restricted to traditional levels and that Community supplies should not replace United States supplies.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Quantities of wheat and barley exported to the Soviet Union in 1980 exceed the average of the previous three years, although, in the case of barley, only marginally so. However, these exports were made on the basis of licences taken out prior to the Council of Ministers' decision of 15 January. Since the imposition of the embargo, no new export refunds have been awarded in respect of sales of wheat or of barley to the Soviet Union.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the average price per litre charged to the Soviet Union for the 149,026,300 litres of wine exported from the EEC and on which subsidies of £9,000,000 were paid by the EEC.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Restitutions are fixed by the Commission in the light of the market situation. The wine is sold privately on the basis of these restitutions. I have no information on the prices at which the private sales took place.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total subsidy paid by the EEC in respect of sales of food and wine to the Soviet Union in the period since the invasion of Afghanistan; what was the comparable total in the same period in respect of exports to other East European nations; and what were the comparable totals in the same period of each of the previous five years.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on 8 December.—[Vol. 995, c. 521–22.]