HC Deb 30 October 1980 vol 991 cc359-60W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cauliflowers and other fresh foodstuffs were destroyed in the United Kingdom under his Department's supervision in accordance with EEC rules in the most recent annual period for which figures are available, and how the destruction was carried out.

Mr. Peter Walker

In the year ended 30 September 1980 the following quantities of fresh produce were destroyed, mainly by returning them to the soil.

Tonnes
Cauliflowers … … … 715
Apples … … … 4895
Pears … … … 1620
Tomatoes … … … 4
Fish … … … 211

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons in his Department and in the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce participated this year in arranging, organising, supervising and paying for the destruction of cauliflowers.

Mr. Peter Walker

These tasks are incidental to the duties of a variety of staff in different parts of the country and the expense of enumerating them would not be justified.