HC Deb 30 July 1980 vol 989 cc733-4W
Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total stock of wheat and barley held in intervention stores in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Walker

At 28 July intervention stocks amounted to 14,017 tonnes of barley and 2,223 tonnes of breadmaking wheat. All the breadmaking wheat and 200 tonnes of the barley have been sold and are awaiting collection.

Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any intervention store grain has been offered for sale.

Mr. Peter Walker

The board offered for sale the entire stock of intervention grain on 14 July.

Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the process of payment for intervention store grain.

Mr. Peter Walker

I am satisfied that the arrangements are generally satisfactory but I am prepared to look into any particular problems.

Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the evidence on which he based his reply to the hon. Member for Luton, West for 11 July regarding processing time of payment of intervention store grain.

Mr. Peter Walker

The average quoted was that of the periods between the receipt of claims by the HGCA and the dates when payable orders were despatched to offerers. It reflected performance in dealing with the 43 claims which had been paid by the date of my hon. Friend's previous question.