§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the rate of variable premiums paid on lamb in the latest week for which an estimate exists; how many animals were eligible for subsidy in that week: and what was their average weight.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe rate of variable premium to be paid on animals presented for certification under the sheep variable premium scheme in the week beginning 20 October is estimated to he 61.9p per kilogram estimated dressed carcase weight. The provisional number of animals certified was 412,700. The average weight of those presented for liveweight certification at auction was 18.0 kg estimated dressed carcase weight.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made of the cost to the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund in 1980 and 1981 of the Community sheepmeat regime; and if he will provide details of the estimated expenditure in each of the member States.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe sum set aside for expenditure under the sheep-meat regime in the Community's 1980 budget is 50 million eua, or approximately £32 million, and the provision in the 1981 Community draft budget is 264 million eua, or approximately £166 million. These are estimates of total expenditure under the regime and no estimates are given for expenditure in each member State, although it is expected that the United Kingdom will be the main reci- 649W pient of Community expenditure in this sector.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the categories of sheep which are currently eligible for certification for the variable premium.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe sheep variable premium scheme currently applies to clean tat lambs, hoggets and other clean fat sheep and the carcases of such animals of an estimated or actual dressed carcase weight of not less than 8 kg which meet the quality standards in Council regulation EEC 2661/80. The sheep must be home-bred or, if imported, must have completed a two-month domiciliary period in the United Kingdom. However,
Thousand tonnes 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 463.4 434.5 391.5 391.7 396.2 The sources of supply were as follows: Thousand tonnes 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 United Kingdom production* … 219.5 208.7 172.6 166.3 188.2 Imports from: New Zealand … 234.2 213.5 213.3 213.6 200.5 Australia … 7.6 11.7 4.6 11.5 7.4 Other … 2.1 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.1 * Net of exports.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level of consumption of lamb and mutton in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of the sources by country of United Kingdom supplies in each of these years.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithUnited Kingdom consumption of mutton and lamb since 1975 is estimated as follows:
Thousand tonnes 1976 1977 1978 788 756 772 The sources of supply were as follows:
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Thousand tonnes 1976 1977 1978 EEC countries* 513 487 491 New Zealand 223 221 232 Australia 13 6 12 Argentina 15 17 11 Other 24 25 26 * Net of exports to third countries. we intend to provide that for sheep and carcases going for export, on which a "clawback" charge equivalent to the premium is levied, only the quality standards and the domiciliary requirement will apply.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level of consumption of lamb and mutton in the European Economic Community in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will provide details of the source, by country, of European Economic Community supplies in each of these years.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithConsumption of lamb and mutton in the Community in 1976–1978, the last years for which full statistics are available, is estimated as follows:
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the categories of sheep which will be subject to a "clawback" charge as a result of the European Economic Community sheepmeat regime when they are exported to another European Economic Community country.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithUnder Community regulations all sheep—except pure-bred breeding animals—and sheep-meat are subject to the "clawback" charge when exported from a member State operating variable premiums.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the "claw-back" charge on exports of lamb under the EEC sheepmeat regime will be applied to exports from the United Kingdom to third countries.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe Community regulations on sheepmeat require "clawback" to be charged on exports of sheep—other than pure-bred breeding animals—and sheepmeat to all destinations from 651W member States operating variable premiums.