§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he took to convey the views of the British frozen vegetable industry on the proposed rate of duty on export of frozen vegetables from the United Kingdom to Spain to those in the European Commission responsible for negotiating the terms of the Spanish accession treaty.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have made clear to the European Commission our dissatisfaction with present tariffs on exports of certain frozen vegetables from the United Kingdom to Spain.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on duty on frozen peas exported from Sweden to Spain consequent on the treaty of accession.
§ Mrs. FennerUnder recently agreed arrangements between the European Community and the European Free Trade Association, each year until 31 December 1992 a quota of 4,500 tonnes of frozen peas will be allowed to enter Spain from Sweden at a reduced duty of 4.5 per cent. Exports above this level will be charged at the level of the common customs tariff (18 per cent.).
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what part he took in the negotiations on the duty payable on frozen food exports from the United Kingdom to Spain; when Her Majesty's Government were first aware of the proposed increase; what steps he has taken (a) within the European Economic Community and (b) with the Spanish Government to reduce the duty to its former level; and whether he has consulted with other frozen food exporting countries within the European Economic Community about joint action to secure this end;
(2) what consultations were held with the frozen food industry about the increase in duties into Spain consequent 36W on the treaty of accession; what information was made available to the industry about that increase; and what attempt was made by him to prevent it.
§ Mrs. FennerMy Department was consulted on the negotiations for Spanish entry into the European Community as they progressed. Due to the rapid pace of the negotiations trade associations could he consulted only on an ad hoc basis; no specific consultations were held with the frozen food industry as a whole. Many different duties are payable on frozen foods as a result of those negotiations. Spain proposed in April 1985 that for certain products Spanish tariff dismantlement for imports from the Ten should start from the level of the common tariff rather than the (normally lower) level actually paid before accession. A United Kingdom objection in respect of frozen vegetables was registered at the time. We are pressing within the European Community for a reduction in the present Spanish duty on frozen peas imported from the Ten.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the levels of British frozen food exports to Spain for each of the last three available years; and how many jobs he estimates are dependent on those exports.
§ Mrs. FennerStatistics are not readily available for such a wide definition. I have no basis for making estimates of the sort to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the rate of duty in Spain on frozen food and vegetables from the United Kingdom (i) before and (ii) after Spanish accession.
§ Mrs. FennerSpanish duty rates for frozen foods imported from the United Kingdom vary greatly, but for frozen vegetables are as follows:
0702B (Frozen Vegetables)
As at 28 February 1986*
Import duty=4.1 per cent. (EC preferential rate)
+"Home Compensation Tax" of 10 per cent. (levied on cif value +6 per cent.=10.6 per cent.
=Total tax and duty burden of 14–7 per cent.
As from 1 March 1986
Import duty=15.7 per cent.
+VAT of 6 per cent. (levied on cif value+ import duty) = 6.9 per cent.
=Total tax and duty burden of 22–6 per cent.
* Subject to import licensing also.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the rate of the duty payable on frozen food and vegetable imports from Spain (i) before and (ii) after Spanish accession to the European Economic Community.
§ Mrs. FennerThe United Kingdom duty payable on frozen food and vegetables imported from Spain before accession is set out in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise tariff 1985. The system of dismantlement of these tariffs is to be found in article 75 of the treaty of accession(Official Journal) L302 of 15 November 1985. Both documents are to be found in the Library of the House. The duty on frozen vegetables imported from Spain was 18 per cent. as at 28 February 1986 and was reduced to 15.7 per cent. on 1 March 1986.
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§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he is making to the Spanish Government to seek a reduction in the duty on frozen food and vegetables from Britain into Spain, reduced to its preaccession level of 4.1 per cent.
§ Mrs. FennerRepresentations have been made to the Spanish authorities in favour of reducing the duty on frozen peas imported from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations Her Majesty's embassy in Madrid has made to the Spanish Government over the increased duty payable on frozen vegetables imported from the United Kingdom consequent on Spain's accession to the European Economic Community.
§ Mrs. FennerOfficials in the Madrid embassy have informed the Spanish authorities that for frozen peas there is in the view of Her Majesty's Government a strong case for activating the provisions of article 75(4) of the treaty of Spanish accession, under which import duties into Spain from the Ten can be dismantled in an accelerated manner.