HC Deb 14 December 1982 vol 34 cc97-8W
Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the half price butter concessions to manufacturers of sugar confectionery.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The United Kingdom has asked the European Commission to consider the potential for increasing butter uptake within the Community by extending the present Community scheme for aiding the use of butter or butter oil in the manufacture of foodstuffs to include sugar confectionery. Currently the scheme applies to the manufacture of pastries and ice cream. It is for the European Commission to decide whether extension would be justified as a cost effective way of increasing butter consumption.

Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the usage of butter in the sugar confectionery market for the years 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Trade estimates suggest that butter usage in sugar confectionery was around 2,600 tonnes in 1979 and may be below 1,000 tonnes in 1982.