§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the most recent price per pound at which the EEC has agreed to sell butter to the Soviet Union; what subsidy that represents per pound of butter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe price at which butter is sold to the Soviet Union is a commercial matter to be decided by individual traders when negotiating export contracts. Such sales attract the normal third country export refund. this refund is currently equivalent to approximately 50p per pound for eighty per cent. fat butter. On 28 February the Commission proposed special arrangements for the sale of butter from intervention stores at reduced prices to certain destinations including India, pakistan and the USSR. The butter is question is at least 18 months old and the amount of the price reduction will be determined by competitive tender. Normal export refunds will also apply to sales under these arrangements.