§ 16. Mr. Leighasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals to reduce support prices for cereals.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Government pressed for a price reduction for cereals at this year's agricultural price negotiations in Brussels, and obtained agreement to a cut of 1 per cent. for most feed grains, and more in the case of breadmaking wheat. Further stringent restraint on support levels will be needed if expenditure on the cereals regime is to be controlled and the right balance restored between the arable and livestock sectors.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the quantity of each United Kingdom grown cereal exported to third countries from the United Kingdom in 1983, together with the relevant cost to guarantee funds; and if he will tabulate, in respect of wheat, each recipient country importing more than 10 per cent. of the total together with the relevant proportion of the total export subsidy.
§ Mr. MacGregorExports to third countries amounted to 752,000 tonnes of wheat and 1,383,000 tonnes of barley at a cost in export refunds and monetary compensatory amounts of £48 million and £89 million respectively. Those countries receiving more than 10 per cent. of the total quantity for wheat were as follows. A breakdown of expenditure on export refunds by country of destination is not readly available.
254W
1983 United Kingdom wheat exports to third countries Country of Destination Tonnage Poland 140,000 Egypt 116,000 Algeria 107,000 GDR 101,000 Tunisia 85,000