§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many apples, pears, cauliflowers and other fresh foodstuffs and fish 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 what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to him on 14 and 28 April 1981.—[Vol. 3, c. 102–3 and 389–90.] The quantities of fish destroyed following withdrawal from the market in the years 1975 to 1979 are as follows:
Tonnes 1975 169 1976 14 1977 3 1978 3 1979 376
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is any cash limit imposed on the funding of the EEC scheme to destroy agricultural produce.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe expenditure depends on withdrawals but amounted in 1980 to less than 0.2 per cent. of United Kingdom expenditure from the guarantee section of FEOGA. The rules are such that expenditure is strictly controlled.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was expended in 206W administering the destruction of food in 1980; and how much was paid to those whose food produce was destroyed.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe administration of these arrangements is incidental to the duties of a variety of staff in different parts of the country and is not separately costed; nor is the amount of compensation for destruction as distinct from other forms of disposal.