HC Deb 15 January 1981 vol 996 c604W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of European Economic Community butter from European Economic Community stockpiles were exported in 1980 to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria; how much each country paid for each 250g pack bought; and what was the average price of a 250g packet of butter sold in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The European Commission's estimates of total Community exports for the first nine months of 1980 are as follows:

tones
USSR 98,000
Poland 9,000
East Germany Nil
Hungary Nil
Czechoslovakia Nil
Bulgaria 450

Separate figures for exports from intervention stocks are not available. The selling price of such butter exported does not have to be disclosed, and I have no information on the price paid for 250g packs. However, the rates of export refund in force until 10 June would imply a sale price of about 20p per 250g of bulk butter. Since 10 June, when the export refund was reduced substantially, the implied sale price would be about 31p per 250g. The first-hand price of bulk butter sold in the United Kingdom averaged between 35p and 40p per 250g.