§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why it has proved necessary to increase the staff employed by his Department's intervention board since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe increase was needed to make good previous staff shortages and to deal with additional work, notable on cereals and sheepmeat.
Beef* Beef products* Volume (tonnes) Value† (£) Volume (tonnes) Value† (£) 1973 14,124 10,736,497 766 848,271 1974 7,828 6,778,630 406 571,848 1975 5,913 3,991,439 621 559,794 1976 9,644 6,919,699 632 662,898 1977 8,090 6,986,534 583 678,015 1978 3,127 3,719,622 298 350,710 1979 4,573 6,894,121 308 456,138 *Also includes veal. †cif. Source: United Kingdom overseas trade statistics.