HC Deb 16 December 1991 vol 201 cc76-7W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the gross production figures for the major fruit and vegetables in the United Kingdom in 1990 and 1991.

Mr. Gummer

The latest estimates of the gross production ('000 tonnes) of the major fruit and vegetables in the 1990–91 and 1991–92 crop years is as follows:

1990–91 1991–92 (forecast)
Cabbages 665.8 672.6
Carrots 550.1 600.7
Cauliflowers 308.5 365.4
Lettuces 252.1 269.4
Peas 318.2 314.0
Tomatoes 138.8 141.8
Apples 310.5 333.6
Pears 36.7 39.1
Raspberries 19.2 17.9
Strawberries 52.3 52.9

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for the amount of each different type of fruit and vegetable which was withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom, indicating in each case how much was(a) delivered to institutions such as schools and prisons, (b) delivered to charitable organisations, (c) ploughed into the ground, (d) used as animal feed, (e) processed into fruit juice or alcohol and (f) put to other uses, specifying the use, in (i) 1990 and (ii) 1991; and how much was spent on these withdrawals in the United Kingdom and EC.

Mr. Gummer

These arrangements are an operational matter for the chief executive of the Intervention Board executive agency, who will write to the hon. Member.