§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average consumption of beef, butter and cheese per head of the population in the most recent monthly period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures five years previously.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe average household consumption per person in Great Britain of beef, butter and cheese in September 1986 and September 1981 were as follows:
Average household consumption of beef, butter and cheese in Great Britain—ounces per person per week September 1986 September 1981 Beef1 7.79 7.38 Butter 1.97 3.43 Cheese 4.06 3.93 1 Carcase meat. Excludes the beef content of meat products. Source: National Food Survey.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposal he has advanced to the European Economic Community Commission for adjustments in the green pound rate applicable to beef; whether any other agricultural produce is affected by his proposal; what effect his proposal is estimated to have in percentage terms on the income to farmers producing beef, and in terms of pence per pound to the retail price of beef.
§ Mr. GummerOn 22 September, I asked the Commission to propose green pound devaluations sufficient to reduce the difference between United Kingdom green and market rates by six percentage points for beef and by two percentage points for other livestock products. If agreed, the devaluation for beef would increase support prices by about 5.1 per cent. The effect on producers' returns and on retail prices would depend on the extent to which market prices respond.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current rates of import levy applicable to beef, butter and cheese, expressed in terms of pence per pound; and what special rates apply to imports of butter and cheese from New Zealand.
§ Mr. GummerThe information is set out in the table.
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Import levy applicable in the United Kingdom on 17 November 1986 Commodity Pence per lb Levy applicable in United Kingdom2 Beef1 57.9 Butter full rate of levy (82% fat content) 78.6 New Zealand (special rate) (80% fat content) 7.8 Cheese (Cheddar) full rate of levy 67.0 New Zealand (special rate) 4.3 1 The rates of levy vary according to tariff heading and country of origin. The rate quoted is for carcase beef (tariff heading 02.01 A II aI) from third countries other than Austria, Switzerland or Sweden. In practice, most beef imports from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced rates of levy. 2Net of MCA.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 November, Official Report, column 16, what are the current monetary compensation amounts payable to or by traders in the United Kingdom expressed as pence per pound, for the export of beef purchased under Regulation 2670/85 and for the export of butter under Regulation 1812/86; and what, in consequence, are the net prices, after payment of export refund and monetary compensation amount, at which the various categories of beef and butter specified in the answer become available to traders exporting under these regulations.
§ Mr. GummerRegulation 2670/85:
The monetary compensatory amounts (MCAs) applicable in the week commencing 17 November and the prices ex-United Kingdom after payment of an export refund, adjusted by MCA for the various categories of beef available in the United Kingdom under this sale are as follows:
MCA (pence/lb) Selling price adjusted for export refunds and MCA (pence/lb) Bone-in-beef Forequarters 13 20 Hindquarters 21 36 Boneless beef Higher value cuts eligible for export refunds 21 99 Lower value cuts not eligible for export refund1 — — Lower value cuts not eligible for export refund 4 18 1 Not available in United Kingdom under this sale. Regulation 1812/86
This regulation covers the sale of beef for export to Brazil and prices are set by tender. United Kingdom beef sold under the regulation was sold at 12.5 p/lb. Export refunds are not available for export to Brazil but an MCA charge of 3.4 p/lb would be payable on exports taking place in the week commencing 17 November. It may be that my hon. Friend, in referring to the export of butter under regulation 1812/86, was seeking details of butter exports under regulation 765/86.
Regulation 765/86
The MCAs payable by traders in the week commencing 17 November under this regulation are as follows:
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Pence/lb Butter with fat content of 80 per cent. 12.5 Butter with fat content of 82 per cent. 13 The sale price of the butter itself is set by competitive tender. There have been no recent bids for 80 per cent. fat butter, the only category available from intervention in the United Kingdom. But on the basis of the latest price accepted for for 82 per cent. butter, the corresponding net price, taking account of current MCAs and export refunds, would be approximately 10p per lb. This figure does not take account of transport and other costs.