§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase in the retail price of beef he anticipates in terms of pence per pound in the United 711W Kingdom in consequence of the abolition of the variable premium; and if there will be any consequent increase in consumer prices in the rest of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 7 February 1989]The abolition of the variable premium in the United Kingdom was decided by the Council in the context of other decisions to limit intervention and to reduce buying-in prices; to apply in the United Kingdom the Community special premium for beef; and to improve the terms of the suckler cow subsidy. Taken together these measures are unlikely to have any significant effect on retail prices in the United Kingdom and they place the United Kingdom beef market on the same footing as the rest of the Community.