§ Mr. William Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the price on the world market of each product covered by the common agricultural policy; what is the European Community price; and what is his estimate of producing each such product in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacGregorThere is no single, generally accepted definition of "world" prices. Set out as follows for each of the main commodities covered by the common agricultural policy arc the estimated lowest prices at Community ports which underlie the Commission's calculation of variable import levies applicable on 22 November 1983. These prices can fluctuate markedly. They are the lowest prices recorded and it is highly likely that we would need to pay higher prices on average if we purchased more on world markets, but the precise level is a matter for speculation. Also shown are the corresponding support prices obtaining in the European Community. Information about production levels and aggregate production costs in the United Kingdom were contained in the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1983—Cmnd. 8804.
Lowest offer prices ECU/tonne European Community by support prices ECUltonne Beef and veal 1,690 3,426 Pigmeat 1,413 1,602 Poultrymeat 1,174 1,415 Eggs 803 1,276 Butter 1,838 3,579 Skimmed milk powder 825 1,496 Common wheat 172 211 Barley 184 192 Sugar (white) 281 577 Notes:
(1) Prices as at 22 November 1983.
(2) Lowest offer prices have been calculated by subtracting the common levy from the appropriate common threshold or guide price. The beef and veal price has also been adjusted for duty. In the case of pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs the sluicegate price, less any supplementary levy, where appropriate, has been quoted.
(3) EC support prices have been defined as:
Beef and veal — intervention price converted to carcase equivalent using 54.4 per cent. killing-out coefficient.
Pigmeat—lowest intervention price.
Poultrymeat and eggs—sluicegate price plus common levy.
Butter—intervention price for 82 per cent. butter.
Skimmed milk powder—intervention price.
Common wheat—reference price for wheat of minimum breadmaking quality.
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Table 1 European Community foodstuffs held in public storage End of year stock volumes '000 tonnes 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 Butter EC 117 53 71 176 117 231 271 128 9 100 661 (as at 24 Novermber 1983) UK 12 0 0 6 10 39 48 20 0 12 105 (as at 24 Novermber 1983) Barley—intervention price.
Sugar — intervention price for white sugar, including storage levy.