HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 c582W
Mr. Geraint Howells

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of butter there are in store within the EEC; what were the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

At the end of October 1988, there were 374,922 tonnes of butter in store within the EEC, 162,928 tonnes in intervention, and 211,994 tonnes in aided private storage. Corresponding stock figures for the end of the previous 10 years are given in the table.

EC Butter Stocks at 31 December (to nearest 100 tonnes)
Intervention tonnes Aided private storage tonnes Total tonnes
1978 231,500 186,500 418,000
1979 270,800 100,600 371,400
1980 128,800 110,600 239,400
1981 11,100 136,100 147,200
1982 111,900 193,800 305,700
1983 692,100 161,300 853,400
1984 841,500 107,400 948,900
1985 995,800 127,700 1,123,500
1986 1,283,300 83,200 1,366,500
1987 859,900 98,200 958,100