§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which products high in saturated fat receive subsidies; and what is the level of subsidies on butter and red meat carcases.
§ Mr. JoplingIn the absence of an objective definition of what constitutes a high saturated fat content, a detailed reply is not possible. It is, however, possible to give specific informations on the levels of subsidy relating to butter and redmeat carcases as requested.
A consumer subsidy is paid on butter at the rate of 8p per kilogram; additionally a special sale of a limited quantity of 39,200 tonnes of butter will be made at a price to packers further reduced by 92p per kilogram. A range of aids is also paid on the use of butter by non-profit-making organisations, such as schools, hospitals, old people's homes; use of butter by the armed forces; use in food manufacture, including use as concentrated butter, and in the manufacture of pastry, sugar confectioner prepared fish dishes and ice-cream.
Under the beef variable premium a payment is made to the producer to make up any difference between the market price and the target price, up to a maximum of 8.74p per kilogram liveweight, 16.25p per kilogram deadweight.
Under the sheep variable premium a payment is made to the producer for each carcase to make up any difference between the market price and the guide price, which in the marketing year 1984.85 averages £2.25 per kilogram carcase weight.