§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of storing one tonne of intervention beef for one year at the last date for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardResponsibility 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 to Mr. Elliot Morley from Guy Stapleton, dated 22 October 1993:
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your priority written Parliamentary Question (2136) tabled for answer on 19 October 1993:—To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the cost of storing one tonne of intervention beef for one year at the last date for which figures are available".Intervention beef is stored in commercial cold stores. The rates paid by the Agency are determined by open competition and 373W vary in line with changes in the demand for cold storage. Over the past twelve months, the average cost of storing intervention beef for one year, including inspection receipt, handling and delivering-out charges, has been around £120 per tonne (exc. VAT).I am sending a copy of this letter to the House of Commons Library and the Public Information Office.