§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the cost of disposing of surplus agricultural products in the United Kingdom for the current year.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe cost of disposing of surplus commodities (beef, cereals, milk and milk products, olive oil, sugar and wine) in the United Kingdom in 1987–88 is estimated to be £603 million. This covers export refunds (net of MCAs), subsidies for internal disposals, losses on sale out of intervention, and depreciation of beef on entry to intervention.