§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total production of tobacco in the European Economic Community in each of the five most recent annual periods for which figures are available; what has been the cost to the European Economic Community of supporting the production and storage or purchase of tobacco in each of these years; and what has been the total expenditure in disposing of tobacco by means of exports to other nations in each of those years.
§ Mr. CurryTotal production of tobacco in the European Economic Community is shown in the table:
Tonnes 1984 348,610 EC10 1985 360,171 EC10 1986 382,818 EC12 1987 383,277 EC12 1988 395,014 EC12 Expenditure on a given harvest impinges on the following year's budget. A breakdown of expenditure on the 1984 to 1988 harvests is shown in the table:
Year Total expenditure (mecu) Premia (mecu) Intervention (mecu) Export refunds (mecu) 19851 863 819 12 32 19861 782 734 16 32 19872 804 732 27 43 19882 966 895 28 43 19892 1,139 972 105 62 1 EC10 2 EC12
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures have been taken to reduce the expenditure of the European Economic Community on tobacco production and storage.
§ Mr. CurryAn agricultural stabiliser was introduced in the tobacco sector in 1988. It achieved a saving of 11 million ecu for its first year of operation.
Recent price-fixing decisions have resulted in reductions in prices and premia for the less marketable varieties. Measures to restrict and control intervention have also been introduced. However, existing market management measures have not been as effective as we would have wished. The Commission has shown a welcome determination to tackle the costs of the tobacco regime. In the current price-fixing discussions we are pressing for even more effective steps to promote budgetary discipline.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the tobacco grown68W within the European Economic Community is of (a) the high tar and (b) the low tar variety; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryEuropean Community production of the high tar varieties represented 65 per cent. of the 1988 harvest, with low tar varieties representing 35 per cent.
We are concerned to ensure that support given to the tobacco regime does not undermine efforts being made under the Europe against Cancer programme to reduce the incidence of disease and early death attributable to smoking. The Commission's plan of action under this programme stresses the need to reduce production and redirect it towards varieties which are least harmful to health. One consequence of recent reductions in support for the less-marketable and higher tar varieties has been a 25 per cent. fall in production of some of these since 1987. The maximum tar directive, which will probably be adopted in May this year, will limit the tar content of cigarettes marketed in the European Community to 15 mg by 1992 and 12 mg by 1997 and contribute considerably towards limiting production of these varieties.
We shall continue to press for measures directed at reorientation of production towards the more marketable and lower tar varieties.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of Community-produced tobacco which was used for consumption(a) within the European Economic Community and (b) outside the European Economic Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThere are no data available on the consumption of European Community raw tobacco. However, in 1988 the Community produced 395,014 tonnes and exported 149,869 tonnes to third countries.