§ 59. Mr. CryerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the cost of storing food for the Intervention Board in the United Kingdom in 1986 and 1987 to the most recent practicable date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe total costs of storing food, including handling, transport and storage charges, met by the intervention board for agricultural produce in 1986 and 1987 were as follows:
£'000 1986 140,976 19871 95,155 1 Up to 6 November The expected outturn for 1987 is £112 million. The reduction in cost from 1986 is mainly due to a lower intake of cereals after the 1986 harvest, partly as a result of reduction in price support, but also reflects savings from new storage rates negotiated by the intervention board for 1987–88. Through its constant endeavours to get reforms in the common agricultural policy, the Government are striving to reduce these particular costs.