§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Hereford, Official Report, 21 July, having regard to the fact that the total imports of turkeymeat from the United States of America to the United Kingdom have already exceeded the average for 1977–78 and, in the light of the figures given for imports into the European Economic Community, he will initiate discussions within the Community to ensure that steps are taken as a matter of urgency to redistribute imports more fairly to prevent the United Kingdom receiving an unrealistic share of the imports of turkeymeat.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithNo. We are, however, keeping the situation under review in consultation with the United Kingdom turkey industry.
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§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Hereford, Official Report, 21 July, why imports of turkeymeat which have crossed Customs boundaries but which have not entered into free circulation are not classified as imports; and if the import levy has been paid on the tonnages represented by the difference in the figures of 1353 tonnes and 199 tonnes of turkeymeat or on the tonnages of whole turkeys represented by the difference in the figures of 598 tonnes and 426 tonnes.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithFor the purposes of the European Community's statistics, "imports" are defined as goods that passed through Customs boundaries and entered into free circulation within the Community. For the purposes of the overseas trade statistics of the United Kingdom, "imports" are defined as goods that have passed the national boundary whether or not they have passed through Customs and entered into free circulation. Import levies are not paid on goods until they pass through Customs boundaries.