§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the United Kingdom accepted responsibility for the cost of disposing of its butter intervention stocks; and what has been the amount sold and the cost involved since that date.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe United Kingdom has accepted no such responsibility. The normal arrangement is that the cost of purchasing intervention products is met by the member state, and the difference between this cost and the proceeds of disposal is reimbursed by the Community when disposal occurs. In March 1987 the Council agreed that for butter disposed of under certain measures since 1 December 1986, this reimbursement would be made in instalments over four years from 1989. A total of 97,190 tonnes of butter had been released under these arrangements up to 31 October 1987. Member states receive payments from Community funds to compensate for the cost of financing deferred repayment. The United Kingdom has so far received £5,122,000.