§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report how much of the promised supplies of European Commission surplus food has already been distributed in the United Kingdom, and to Thurrock in particular; how much more remains to be distributed; what steps are being taken to speed up distribution in the United Kingdom and to Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingMy most recent information is that 640 tonnes of butter and 19 tonnes of beef have been released from intervention stores in the United Kingdom. As I said in my reply earlier today milk and milk products are now available to charitable organisations from the commercial market. The actual distribution of all these foodstuffs, including distribution in Thurrock, is a matter for those organisations. The eventual total uptake of the various products will depend on their requirements, and I am not yet in a position to give estimates. My Department and the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce are in constant touch with the organisations to ensure that distribution is as speedy and efficient as possible.