HC Deb 26 July 1993 vol 229 cc734-5W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the consequences for beef prices in Botswana of the proposed agreement at the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

Mr. Jack

The proposed GATT agreement includes a commitment to reduce both the volume of and expenditure on subsidised exports of beef. This should help to produce a firming of prices for beef on world markets, which would benefit Botswana.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the benefits the Botswana beef industry gains from Lome IV and of how this will be affected by the present GATT talks.

Mr. Jack

Under the terms of protocol seven of Lome IV on beef and veal, Botswana benefits from a 90 per cent. reduction in the variable levy on beef and veal for an annual quantity of 18,916 tonnes of boneless meat. This would not be affected by the proposals in the draft Uruguay round agreement on agriculture.