§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present extent of overhang of beef intervention stocks; how this compares with the situation at this time in 1986; and what are the prospects for 1987.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1987]: At end-Decemher 1986 the total amount of beef in public intervention stores in the Community was about 447,000 tonnes compared with 653,000 tonnes at end 1985. Following the agreement on reform of the beef regime reached in December, intervention will from April this year play a less prominent role in market support.