HL Deb 17 January 1984 vol 446 cc1039-40WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will show in tabular form the tonnage of wheat, barley and oats produced in the United Kingdom in the crop year of 1983; and say how much was surplus to our domestic requirements, whether it is their policy to encourage further expansion of production of any of these three cereals, and if so whether they are satisfied that it would be economically sensible to do so; and

Whether they will show in tabular form the tonnage of wheat, barley and oats held in intervention in the European Community; the average price per tonne paid for it; its approximate total value in the Community market and in the international market today; and whether they will say whether it is intended to encourage higher production of any of these crops; and if so whether they are satisfied that it is economically sensible to do so; and

Whether they will show in tabular form the tonnage of wheat, barley and oats held in intervention in the United Kingdom; the average price per tonne paid for it; its approximate total value today in the domestic market and in the international market; and whether they will say whether it is their intention to encourage higher production of any of these crops; and if so whether they are satisfied that it is economically sensible to do so.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods (Lord Belstead)

The information requested is set out in the following table. Not all of it is available in precisely the form specified. The main need in the cereals sector is for action on prices at a Community level. This is necessary in order to reduce the size of the Community's surplus of grain and the cost of support, and to restore the balance between the cereals and the livestock sectors.

Wheat Barley Oats
Estimated UK Production, 1983 (million tonnes) 10.8 10.0 0.5
Surplus (+) or Deficit (-): Difference between 1983 production and estimated 1983–84 usage (million tonnes) + 1.2 + 1.7 - 0.1
EC Intervention Stocks at 9.12.83:Volume (million tonnes) 6.8 1.2 (5)—
Value on Domestic Market (mECU) (l) 1,490 240 —
Value on International Market (mECU) (2) 1.158 204 —
UK Intervention Stocks at 9.12.83: Volume (million tonnes) 0.2 0.6 —
Value on Domestic Market (£m) (1) 27 74 —
Value on International Market (£m) (2) 19 58 —
Average Purchase Price of Intervention Grain (ecu/tonne) (3) 209 (4) 190 —

Notes.

  1. (1) Unit value: price per tonne payable for intervention stocks sold on the Community market in December 1983 (including average quality premia).
  2. (2) Unit value: f.o.b. Gulf wheat price 8.12.83; f.o.b. St Lawrence barley price 8.12.83.
  3. (3) Average reference and intervention prices applicable from August 1983. A proportion of EC stocks dates from earlier years which was purchased at lower prices.
  4. (4) 0.5% of UK wheat stocks consists of feed wheat, for which the same intervention price as barley applies.
  5. (5) Intervention does not apply to oats.