HC Deb 10 May 1988 vol 133 cc95-6W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement setting out the financial and other incentives provided by the EEC for the growing of lupins; what is the purpose of such expenditure; and what is the current annual expenditure on this activity;

(2) what surplus now exists in the production of lupins in the EEC; and what is the current annual expenditure of disposing of such a surplus;

(3) what information he has on lupin production in the EEC; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Aid is payable to animal feed compounders utilising Community-grown sweet lupins, which have a high protein content, provided a specified minimum price has been paid to the grower. There is no surplus, because the Community is a substantial net importer of protein products. The cost to the Community budget of aid to sweet lupins was about 0.5 MECU (or £350,000) in 1987, and an estimated 6,000 tonnes will be eligible for aid in 1987–88.