HC Deb 16 March 1987 vol 112 c422W
Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the EEC food surplus items now being given away in the United Kingdom and the amounts.

Mr. Gummer

The surplus foodstuffs now being given away in the United Kingdom are:

  • Butter
  • Beef (in the form of prepared meals)
  • Whole milk
  • Semi-skimmed milk
  • Cheese
  • Concentrated butter

The most recent figures of releases from intervention stores represent 44,526,800 million packs of butter and 7,426,000 million portions of beef. Charitable organisations are purchasing milk, cheese and concentrated butter from commercial sources, and claims for 53,216 pints of whole milk, 20,704 pints of semi-skimmed milk, 839 tonnes of cheese and 12,000 kg of concentrated butter have so far been received by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the distribution of free EEC butter to the needy in Waltham Forest; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.