Cereals (Hansard, 19 November 1987)

§ 29. Mr. Hardy
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken following the evidence of fraud and malpractice with regard to the licensed storage of cereals which was drawn to his attention by the hon. Member for Wentworth some months ago.

§ Mr. MacGregor
Procedures have been strengthened for controlling the intake and storage of grain taken into intervention, and for monitoring the financial soundness of storage companies. In addition, the Intervention Board is continuing to co-operate in police enquiries into events at the Marchington store, and to seek to recover the loss concerned.

§ 47. Mr. Cox
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the tonnage of cereals that was in storage in the United Kingdom on 31 October.

§ Mr. MacGregor
There were 1.38 million tonnes of wheat and 0.78 million tonnes of barley in intervention stores in the United Kingdom on 31 October 1987. Comparable information is not available on stocks held on farms or in private stores.

§ 58. Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of cereal output for the current year.

§ Mr. MacGregor
My Department now estimates the 1987 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom to be 21.7 million tonnes.

§ 69. Mr. Stevens
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards a set aside programme for cereals.

§ Mr. MacGregor
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory).