HC Deb 14 December 1989 vol 163 cc799-800W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make urgent arrangements to ensure European Community meats and butter are distributed in future by Bradford council; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

Bradford council did not register an interest in operating this scheme and consequently I was, and am, unable to make any allocation of produce to the council under the current arrangements.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received from Bradford about inconvenience experienced by pensioners and others eligible to receive European Community butter and meats when collecting such butter and meats.

Mr. Gummer

We have received two letters enclosing some press cuttings concerning the inconvenience of queuing experienced by those seeking to obtain butter and beef in the Bradford area under the EC surplus food scheme.

Mrs. Maureen Hicks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the precise guidelines on the administrative arrangements for the distribution of surplus EEC butter and in particular who should collect the 5p for each pack and the intended use of the money so collected.

Mr. Gummer

The administration arrangements for the application of the surplus food scheme are set out in the intervention board's leaflet LP 39, a copy of which is being sent to my hon. Friend. To cover their administrative costs, designated organisations may levy a charge upon recipients of the food not exceeding 20p per kilogramme.

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