§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the purpose of the EEC proposal to levy a tax on imported canary seed, buckwheat and millet; what would be the amount of the proposed tax; and whether Her Majesty's Government treat this proposal as falling to be considered under the Single European Act by majority vote.
§ Mr. MacGregor[holding answer 21 April 1988]: The Commission is proposing to align import levies on canary seed, buckwheat and millet with those on barley; it has 588W argued that the existing arrangements, under which separate import levies are fixed for each of these cereals, is difficult to monitor, given the limited quantities traded on the world market, and that its proposal would simplify the system. Current rates of levy are £66.83 per tonne for buckwheat, £95.61 per tonne for millet and £42.69 per tonne for canary seed; if the Commission's proposal was adopted all these cereals would be subject to the import levy for barley, which currently stands at £115.23 per tonne. The proposal is made under article 43 of the treaty of Rome, and as such may be adopted by a qualified majority.