HC Deb 17 July 1995 vol 263 cc966-7W
Sir Donald Thompson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) of 26 June,Official Report, column 528, if he will detail the steps he took to oppose subsidised grain prices to Spanish pig farmers. [34306]

Mr. Baldry

The sale of stocks out of intervention is agreed through management committee procedure. The UK, along with certain other member states, argued strongly against the proposals but was outvoted on this occasion.

Sir Donald Thompson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) of 28 June,Official Report, column 698, at what prices tenderers bought grain out of intervention. [34295]

Mr. Baldry

The results of the adjudication of the tenders for the sale of barley out of UK intervention destined for Spain are as follows:

Date of adjudication Tonnage Selling price from intervention (ecu/t) (£/t)
29 June 1995 108,308 122.49–124.30 1103.01–104.54
6 July 1995 141,688 125.41–125.61 2105.84–106.01
Conversion rates:
1 1 ecu = £0.840997 (rate in force from 15 May 1995).
21 ecu = £0.843954 (rate in force from 4 July 1995).

These prices are lower than the normal sale price of 140.31 ecu/t (£118.42/t). The difference is intended to help the shipper meet the cost of transport from the UK port to Spain.