§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to prevent the smuggling of dollar bananas into the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 10 December 1993]: Controls of imports of bananas apply at the first point of entry into the Community. Licences are required for all imports from third countries. In the single European market, once bananas have been cleared into free circulation anywhere in the Community they may be traded freely. National controls on the entry of dollar bananas already entered into free circulation by another member state are not permitted.
Average indebtedness of specialist sheep and mixed cattle and sheep farms wholly or mainly in the Less Favoured Areas in England1 SDA specialist sheep farms2 SDA mixed cattle and sheep farms2 DA cattle and sheep farms3 Accounting year4 Total external liabilities (£ thousands per farm) External liabilities as a percentage of total assets (Per cent.) Total external liabilities (£ thousands per farm) External liabilities as a percentage of total assets (Per cent.) Total external liabilities (£ thousands per farm) External liabilities as a percentage of total assets (Per cent.) 1986–87 28..7 14.0 36.0 14.0 36.9 16.0 1987–88 28.3 15.0 35.3 13.0 35.8 16.0 1988–89 28.5 14.0 36.2 13.0 30.1 13.0 1989–90 32.9 15.0 43.6 13.0 34.8 13.0 1990–91 28.4 14.0 48.1 15.0 21.3 8.0 1991–92 24.5 12.0 43.3 14.0 20.4 8.0 1992–93 (provisional) 28.6 14.0 39.0 12.0 30.7 10.0 1 All data based on closing valuations. 2 SDA farms must have at least half of their area in the LFA and at least half of that in the SDA. 3 DA farms must have at least half of their area in the LFA and more than half of that in the DA. 4 Ending on average in mid-February.