§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the European Commission's proposals on modifying the calculation of clawback on sheepmeat will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI understand that the Commission decided last week not to make the proposal it promised during the price-fixing discussions for an abatement of the clawback so as to take account of the higher price of the product of export quality. We do not accept that this decision is justifiable, and we have made it clear to the Commission that we look to it to find satisfactory means of fulfilling its obligation to solve the problems raised by the existing clawback arrangements for our export trade, and to implement these urgently.
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§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much sheepmeat was exported to other European Community countries and to third countries, respectively, in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithExport of sheepmeat (excluding pure-bred breeding animals) in the years requested were as follows:
Tonnes Other member states Third countries Total 1976 35,188 3,332 38,520 1977 46,326 4,030 50,356 1978 48,723 3,304 52,027 1979 44,769 4,313 49,082 1980 40,454 3,646 44,100 i Source: Customs and Excise Overseas Trade Statistics.
ii Live exports have been included by converting headage figures to carcase equivalent.