European Community (Wine Production) (Hansard, 25 June 1981)

§ Mr. Hardy
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the volume of wine produced by member States of the European Economic Community in each of the last three years; and by how much this exceeded consumption within the Community.

§ Mr. Wiggin
The information is as follows:

1978–79 1979–80(provisional) (m hl) 1980–81 (estimate)

Production 138.3 177.2 150.0

Excess over consumption within the Community^* 1.4 41.8 17.3

^* Consumption within the Community is taken as direct consumption as wine plus commercial processing, for example, cognac, vermouth and vinegar. It does not include unaided exports of wine which in the three years were respectively 6.3, 3.1 and 4.5 million hl.

§ Mr. Hardy
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much Community-produced wine 202W has been sold to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the last six months; and what is the price per litre which has been obtained in these transactions.

§ Mr. Wiggin
According to the European Commission, 572,000 hl of wine were exported from the Community to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the six months November 1980 to April 1981, the most recent period for which statistics are available. Export contracts are concluded by private traders and information on prices is not published.

	1978–79	1979–80(provisional) (m hl)	1980–81 (estimate)
Production	138.3	177.2	150.0
Excess over consumption within the Community^*	1.4	41.8	17.3
^* Consumption within the Community is taken as direct consumption as wine plus commercial processing, for example, cognac, vermouth and vinegar. It does not include unaided exports of wine which in the three years were respectively 6.3, 3.1 and 4.5 million hl.