HC Deb 22 November 1982 vol 32 c393W
Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the test applied for suitability of bread-making wheat offered to the Intervention Board is the same in all member countries of the European Community.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The rules for conducting the tests applied to wheat offered for intervention at the bread wheat reference price are set out in detailed scientific terms in Community regulations. Those regulations are directly applicable in all member States.

Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any comparisons have been made between the method of testing bread-making wheat for intervention purposes in the United Kingdom and those methods used in France and Germany.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The methods of testing bread-making wheat applied in the United Kingdom are strictly in accordance with Community rules. Any comparison between these rules and practice in other member States would be a matter for the European Commission.

Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average number of samples submitted to the Intervention Board for bread-making wheat that are accepted as suitable; and how many are rejected.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Sixty-four per cent. of the 1,620 samples so far tested this season have been accepted and the remainder rejected.