HC Deb 28 June 1993 vol 227 cc380-1W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what quantity of intervention stocks by commodity is held in England; and what the figures were(a) 12 months ago, (b) 24 months ago, (c) 36 months ago and (d) 48 months ago;

(2) what quantity of intervention stocks, by commodity, is held in Northern Ireland; and what the figures were (a) 12 months ago, (b) 24 months ago (c) 36 months ago and (d) 48 months ago;

(3) what quantity of intervention stocks, by commodity, is held in Scotland; and what the figures were (a) 12 months ago. (b) 24 months ago, (c) 36 months ago and (d) 48 months ago;

(4) what quantity of intervention stocks, by commodity, is held in Wales; and what the figures were (a) 12 months ago, (b) 24 months ago, (c) 36 months ago and (d) 48 months ago.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Responsibility for this matter is delegated to the Intervention Board Executive Agency and I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Gentleman direct.

Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 June 1993:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your written Parliamentary Question (1836) tabled for answer on 25 June 1993:—

"To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what quantity of intervention stocks by commodity is held in England; and what the figures were (a) 12 months ago, (b) 24 months ago, (c) 36 months ago and (d) 48 months ago".

I have been asked to answer the questions which you tabled in respect of stocks held in Scotland (1854), Wales (1855) and Northern Ireland (1853) over the same time periods.

The information is set out in the attached table. Current stocks are shown at 31 March 1993 and in earlier years, for all commodities except beef, at 30 June. Earlier year figures for beef are at 31 December, the only date which they are available, because at the other times of the year they are collated only by intervention regions, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. You should be aware that intervention stocks are not always stored in the area in which they are produced.

Intervention Stocks in the United Kingdom
tonnes
Country and 1 Year Commodity
Wheat Barley Rye Butter Skimmed Milk Powder Beef
England
1993 66,707 896,150 517 7,246 480 91,345
1992 12,367 409,476 324 12,755 1,920 93,956
1991 12,562 346,034 131 25,922 5,850 83,463
1990 34,337 271,021 12,639 40 32,026
1989 209,287 297,707 7,698 1,081
Scotland
1993 43,281 448,581 11,286
1992 351,379 10,518
1991 329,046 9,017
1990 301,741 4,991
1989 318,033 10 292
Wales
1993 574 1,976
1992 859 1,934
1991 2,499 123
1990 1,628 145
1989 2,355 23
Northern Ireland
1993 3,208 865 60,535
1992 2,893 865 61,117
1991 8,716 3,745 51,767
1990 4,514 1,080 40,646
1989 2,153 7,334
1End May 1993 and end June for other years except for beef which is end December.