§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of wine and beef which was exported from the European Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; what subsidy was available for such sales expressed in pence per litre or pence per pound, respectively; and what was the range of sale prices after export subsidies and other grants.
§ Mr. CurryThe total amount of wine and beef exported from the European Community for the most recent annual period for which figures are avaailble were as follows:
- Beef (July 1989–June 1990) 763,105 tonnes (product weight)
- Wine (May 1989–April 1990) 11,095,709 hectolitres.
Official statistics on the range of sale prices after the payment of export refunds are not available.
Rates of export refund for beef vary according to the category of animal, type of meat and destination; those applicable at the end of the period for the export figures provided were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities—Reference L129/0 of 19 May 1990 page 21. The export refunds are set in ecu per unit weight or unit volume. One ecu/tonne converted at the United Kingdom agricultural conversion rate is equal to 0.03614 pence/pound.
Rates of export refund for wine during the period for the export figures provided were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities—Reference No. L73 of 17 March 1989 page 20. The rate of conversion applicable was:
- up to 31 August 1989 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.675071/litre
- up to 10 January 1990 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.701383/litre
- from 11 January 1990 one ecu/hectolitre = £0.704335/litre