Food and Drink Statistics

HC Deb 04 April 1995 vol 257 cc1055-6W

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the United Kingdom food and drink deficit or surplus(a) in total and (b) with other countries of the EU for each year from 1990 to 1994. [14929]

Mr. Jack

[Pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1995, co. 232.]: Imports and exports of food, feed and drink as recorded in the overseas trade statistics in the years 1990 to 1994 are shown in £ million in the table:

£ million
	1990	1991	1992	1993 provisional	January-September 1994 provisional
Total:
Imports	12,298	12,262	13,406	13,841	10,868
Exports	6,352	6,827	7,521	8,053	6,435
Crude trade gap	5,946	5,435	5,886	5,789	4,433
EU:
Imports	8,030	8,019	8,862	8,381	6,510

	October	1994 November	December	January	1995 February	March (to 29th)
Flights	None	33	71	3	31	51
Calves	None	6,296	13,535	291	3,102	4,946

No calf fatalities have been reported during loading or unloading, or while the calves were on board the aircraft.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is a Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food veterinary surgeon present at all loadings of calves on to aeroplanes art Coventry airport. [16975]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 3 April 1995]: All loading of calves on to planes at Coventry airport are supervised by an inspector or a veterinary inspector from the Ministry.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the legal opinion published on 30 March by the RSPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which argues that the Government could lawfully prohibit the export of veal calves for rearing in veal crates. [18769]

£ million
	1990	1991	1992	1993 provisional	January-September 1994 provisional
Exports	3,632	4,293	4,736	4,730	3,885
Crude trade gap	4,398	3,726	4,127	3,651	2,625

Note:

Because of differences in valuation principles, the crude trade gap overstates the contribution of food, feed and drink to the deficit on visible trade in the balance of payment statistics by about 15 per cent.

Source:

Central Statistical Office.