§ 22. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures available for the production and consumption of butter and margarine, respectively, in the United Kingdom.; how these compare with equivalent figures in recent years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe figures which are contained in the following table, indicate that the production of both butter and margarine was higher in 1980 than in the two previous years, as was the consumption of margarine. Consumption of butter was lower in 1980 than in 1978 and 1979.
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Production, Offtake and Household Consumption of Butter and Margarine 1978–80 Butter Margarine Production ('000t) Offtake ('000t) Household Consumption (oz/hd/wk) Production ('000t) Offtake ('000t) Household Consumption (oz/hd/wk) 1978 164.1 407.6 4.55 367.9 363.9 3.54 1979 161.2 380.5 4.45 359.1 373.3 3.63 1980 168.9 327.0 4.05 382.8 399.0 3.83 1981 (1st Quarter) 46.8 NA 3.92 100.9 NA 3.95 Note:
There are no direct estimates of total consumption of butter and margarine. Offtake, defined as production plus imports minus exports minus known stock change, provides an indication, but the figures will be affected by unknown stock changes. The table therefore also shows direct estimates of household consumption as recorded in the National Food Survey. These account for about 80 per cent, of the total.