§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his policy that quotas will play a role in reducing surpluses in European Economic Community agricultural products other than milk.
§ Mr. JoplingIn general the Government favour action through the price mechanism as the best way to reduce agricultural surpluses and their contribution to CAP costs. This method cuts cost directly, reduces the incentive to over-production, encourages consumption and avoids distortions of the market and administrative problems which quotas can entail.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement setting out the amount of various surplus foodstuffs in public and private stores financed by the Common Market; and if he will publish a table showing the comparable levels around the same date in each of the previous 10 years.
§ Mr. JoplingThe information is as follows:
EC Foodstuffs in Intervention '000 tonnes Butter 1,032 as at 11 October 1984 SMP 886 as at 11 October 1984 Wheat 4,028 as at 18 October 1984 Barley 1,266 as at 18 October 1984 Rye 331 as at 18 October 1984 Durum 805 as at 18 October 1984 Beef 457 as at 30 September 1984 Olive Oil 82 as at 15 September 1984 Oilseeds Nil as at 15 September 1984 640W
EC Foodstuffs in Private Storage '000 tonnes Butter 215 as at 11 October 1984 Pigmeat 62 as at 30 August 1984 Dried Fruit 54 as at 30 September 1984 Cheese 118 as at 11 October 1984 Beef 74 as at 12 October 1984 I will publish the information for earlier years as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost of the common agricultural policy in each year from 1973 to 1983, respectively; if he will publish a further table showing the amount in each year which was expended on the storage, dumping and destruction of surplus foodstuffs and wine; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the common agricultural policy and of storage, dumping and destruction in the years 1984 and 1985, respectively.
§ Mr. JoplingThe following table sets out the total cost of the CAP from 1973 with estimates for 1984 and 1985.
(mecu) 1973 3,805 1974 3,230 1975 4,708 1976 5,796 1977 7,122 1978 9,000 1979 10,880 1980 11,943 1981 11,742 1982 13,077 1983 16,743 *1984 19,146 †1985 18,796 * Draft Supplementary and Amending Budget. †Draft Budget. Expenditure under the CAP is not categorised in the way described. However, the following figures represent expenditure from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund since 1979 on export refunds, internal disposal subsidies and public intervention storage for commodities which have been in structural surplus in this period (cereals, sugar, wine and milk products). Comparable figures for previous years are not readily available. Estimates for 1984 and 1985 are also given:
(mecu) 1979 6,407 1980 6,644 1981 5,897 1982 6,259 1983 7,811 1984 9,890 1985 10,169 * Draft Supplementary and Amending Budget. † Draft Budget.