HC Deb 08 December 1981 vol 14 cc366-9W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing United Kingdom consumption of each of the basic foodstuffs including drink and tobacco, governed by the common agricultural policy, the representative average price per ton in each case and the premium paid on each ton in terms of the levies and other charges imposed under the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The information requested is given in the following table:

Estimated supplies for human consumption in the United Kingdom in 1980 (a) ('000 tonnes) Average producer price in 1980 (£/ tonne) Levy applicable on 23 November 1981 to United Kingdom imports from third countries (£/tonne)
Eggs 766 37.4 p/doz 265.56 (o)
Tobacco 119 (p) 113.26 (q) (r)
Wine 402 m. litres 74p/litre (s) (t)
(a) These estimates will, in some cases, be affected by unknown stock changes.
(b) Wheat milled for flour.
(c) Based on provisional contract price for sugar beet.
(d) In practice, United Kingdom imports from third countries are normally covered by the Lomé convention and enter the Community levy-free.
(e) Beef carcases or half carcases (CCT 0201 AII a1bb).Imports are also subject to an ad valorem tariff of 20 per cent. Most imports from third countries are subject to special arrangements involving reduced levy and duty rates.
(f) Imports of lamb under voluntary restraint and other agreements with principal suppliers are subject to a reduced charge of 10 per cent ad valorem. Any imports outside these arrangements are subject to levies which cannot exceed the 20 per cent. tariff rate bound in the GATT.
(g) Prices given are £ per tonne liveweight for clean beef and veal, £ per tonne estimated dressed carcase weight for sheep and £ per tonne deadweight for pigs.
(h) Pig carcases or half carcases (CCT 0201 AIII a1)
(i) Bacon sides—salted (CCT 0206 BI a2aa)
(j) Average wholesale price for broilers
(k) 70 per cent chickens (CCT 0202 AIb)
(1) Average net return to producers
(m) Butter 82 per cent fat (CCT 0403a). A special lower rate of levy is applicable to imports of butter from New Zealand.
(n) Cheddar cheese (CCT0404 EI b1bb)
(o) Eating eggs (CCT 0405 AIb)
(p) Imports of unmanufactured tobacco less exports
(q) Average value of imports of unmanufactured tobacco
(r) There is no CAP levy on unmanufactured tobacco, but it is subject to a variable tariff.
(s) Average unit value of United Kingdom wine imports in 1980
(t) Levies are not charged in the wine sector, although a countervailing charge may be levied on products from third countries which have not agreed to respect the Community's reference price. These charges vary from 15p per percentage volume alcohol per hectolitre for white wines to £5.91 per hectolitre for liqueur wines.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the principal common agricultural policy products (a) the common agricultural policy price, (b) the relevant world price and the rate of exchange used in calculating it, (c) the common agricultural policy levy, (d) the monetary compensation amount and (e) the United Kingdom levy.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The following table provides the information requested. The third country offer prices

CAP support price (a) ECU/tonne Estimated world prices (b) ECU/tonne Common levy (c) ECU/tonne United Kingdom MCA (c) £/tonne United Kingdom net levy (c) £/tonne
Beef and veal 2828.0 1636.4 (d) 1481.98 95.44 959.1
Sheepmeat 2862.0 2770.0 (e) na na na
Pigmeat 1374.2 1364.4 345.3 49.31 250.54
Poultrymeat 1354.6 1123.4 231.2 12.98 147.72
Eggs 1188.3 546.0 642.3 15.14 265.56
Milk ECU/litre 0.21685 (f) na
Butter 3178.4 2150.0 1354.8 114.05 (g) 903.59
Skimmed milk powder 1324.5 951.4 571.2 47.53 380.41
Common wheat 191.56 163.23 69.04 6.63 46.87
Barley 171.95 137.19 74.53 5.93 49.36
Maize 171.95 114.01 97.71 5.93 62.87
Sugar 505.0 298.0 (h) 287.1 18.12 185.43

Notes

(a) Prices ruling for week beginning 23 November 1981. Beef and veal—intervention price converted to carcase equivalent using 55 per cent. killing-out co-efficient; sheepmeat—guide price; pigmeat—lowest buying-in price although in practice support is through occasional aids to private storage rather than buying-in; poultrymeat and eggs—sluicegate price plus basic levy; milk—milk equivalent intervention price; butter—intervention price for 82 per cent. butter; skimmed milk powder, barley and maize—intervention price; common wheat—reference price; white sugar—intervention price including storage levy.

(b) "World prices" have been taken as the minimum offer prices of imports underlying the calculation of the variable levies and have been calculated by subtracting the levy in ECUs applicable on 23 November from the appropriate threshold-guide price in ECUs. The beef price is also adjusted for duty. For pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs, the "world price" has been taken as the sluicegate price less supplementary levies.

(c) The rates of levy and United Kingdom MCAs in force on 23 November 1981. These rates vary for different tariff headings. The rates quoted are: beef and veal—carcase; pigmeat—carcase; poultry—70 per cent. chickens.

used by the Commission to determine rates of levy applicable on 23 November 1981 are taken as relevant world prices. For pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs, the world price is taken as the current sluicegate price less supplementary levies. I must emphasise, however, that the figures given do not accurately represent the prices at which the United Kingdom or the Community could buy from the world market if more supplies from third countries were sought.

(d) Most imports of beef from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced levy rates.

(e) Imports of lamb under voluntary restraint and other agreements with principal suppliers are subject to a reduced charge of 10 per cent. ad valorem. Any imports outside these arrangements are subject to levies which cannot exceed the 20 per cent. tariff rate bound in the GATT.

(f) There is virtually no trade for liquid milk on world markets.

(g) A special lower rate of levy is applicable to imports of butter from New Zealand.

(h) In practice United Kingdom imports from third countries are normally covered by the Lome convention and enter the Community levy-free.