§ 20. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on the future valuation of the green pound; and when this matter is to be discussed by the Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. JoplingIn the course of the forthcoming price-fixing, the Government will be seeking an outcome on the green pound which is equitable to United Kingdom farmers, traders and consumers.
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§ 44. Mr. Baldryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Council of Ministers on the current value of the green pound.
§ Mr. JoplingI told the 30–31 March meeting of the Council of Ministers that the Government would finalise their position on the devaluation of the green pound at a later stage in the negotiations.
§ 51. Mr. Marlandasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effects of a devaluation in the green pound on United Kingdom farmers.
§ Mr. JoplingA devaluation of the green pound would reduce United Kingdom MCAs and raise agricultural support prices and United Kingdom farm income. It would also tend to increase feed costs and consumer prices for food and add to Community budget costs and United Kingdom public expenditure.
§ Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the value of the green pound.
§ Mr. JoplingI have received a substantial number of such representations.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the average percentage difference between the value of the pound sterling and the green rate for the pound sterling for each six months period since January 1979.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987]: The information is not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Monetary compensatory amounts reflect the difference between sterling's market rate and green rates. The following table shows the monetary compensatory amount percentages for beef and cereals during the first week in each six months period since 1979 as well as the latest figures available:
Date (week commeneing ) Monetary compensatory amount (percentage) Beef Cereals 1 January 1979 -27.0 -27.0 2 July 1979 -6.0 -17.6 7 January 1980 -3.5 -9.0 7 July 1980 +1.7 -1.0 5 January 1981 +12.1 +12.1 6 July 1981 +12.3 +12.3 4 January 1982 +8.0 +8.0 5 July 1982 +9.6 +9.6 3 January 1983 +1.4 +1.4 4 July 1983 +5.2 +5.2 2 January 1984 +7.6 +7.6 2 July 1984 +1.0 +3.9 6 January 1985 -1.9 -1.9 1 July 1985 +3.6 +3.6 6 January 1986 -3.5 -3.5 7 July 1986 -7.7 -8.9 5 January 1987 -18.4 -26.3 27 April 1987 -16.4 -24.1