HC Deb 24 May 1984 vol 60 c548W
Sir John Osborn

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proportion of world production of butter, cheese, beef and pork is freely traded on the world market; and how much of this is exported onto the world market by member states of the European Community;

(2) how the quantities of world production of butter, cheese, beef and pork that are freely traded on the world market compare with the consumption of these commodities in the United Kingdom.

Mr. MacGregor

There is no comprehensive information on the volumes of products entering world trade which are not subject to controls or special arrangements and which may therefore be described as freely traded. The following figures are based on the most recent information of total recorded world trade but excluding that between member states of the European Community.

World production and trade: 1982
Volume of world trade* as percentage of world production Volume of European Community exports† as percentage of world trade* Volume of new supplies/offtake in the United Kingdom as percentage of world trade*
Butter 10 49 43
Cheese 7 48 44
Beef‡ 5 15 47
Pork‡ 1 8 181
Sources: FAO Production and Trade Yearbook.
Eurostat
MAFF
* World exports excluding intra European Community trade: excludes processed products.
† European Community exports to third countries.
‡ Statistics include dried and salted meat.