HC Deb 20 January 1981 vol 997 cc144-5W
Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current European Economic Community levy or tax on: 1 lb. of frozen New Zealand lamb, 1 lb. of frozen Australian lamb, 1 lb. of frozen Australian beef, 1 lb. of New Zealand butter, 1 lb. of New Zealand cheddar, 1 lb. of Canadian cheddar, 1 lb. of self-raising flour, 1 lb. of plain flour, and a standard hard grain wheat loaf; and what proportion this represents of current wholesale prices.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The information requested is set out below: in the case of variable levies the rates used are those applying in the second week of January 1981 and take account of MCAs; wholesale prices are estimates or averages representative of current market conditions.

Commodity Levy or tax (pence per lb. Weight) Per cent. of current wholesale price
Frozen New Zealand lamb 4* 8
Frozen Australian lamb
Frozen Australian beef 13–70‡ 12–65
Commodity Levy or tax (pence per lb. Weight) Per cent. of current wholesale price
New Zealand butter 14§ 17
New Zealand cheddar 4
Canadian cheddar 3.5
Self-raising flour 1 12.3
Plain flour 1 9.8
Standard (800 gram) hard grain wheat loaf
* Maximum levy of 10 per cent. ad valorem.
† There are currently no significant imports of Australian lamb. Maximum levy of 10 per cent. ad valorem.
‡ Frozen Australian beef is subject to both a variable levy and an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. The figures given are approximations for representative cuts indicating the range between levy free imports and those entering at the full rate. The majority of imports enter levy free or at reduced rates of levy under special concessionary arrangements.
§ Concessionary rates.
≑ There are currently no significant imports of hard grain wheat loaves.