HC Deb 29 April 1996 vol 276 c416W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to mount a legal challenge against the EU worldwide ban on exports of United Kingdom beef. [25668]

Mrs. Browning

The Government are challenging the legality of the EU ban on the export of British beef before the European Court of Justice.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the total value of beef exports to the European Union in each of the last four quarters; [26996]

(2) what has been the total value of exports of calves and cull cattle to the European Union in each of the last four quarters; [26997]

(3) what has been the total value of beef imports from the European Union in each of the last four quarters; [26998]

(4) what has been the total value of imports of calves and cull cattle from the European Union in each of the last four quarters.[26999]

Mrs. Browning

Overseas trade statistics for the United Kingdom record the total value of imports and exports of bovine carcase meat and live bovines with other members of the EC as follows:

£ million
1995
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Exports to the EC
Beef 132 147 130 125
Live bovines 14 23 23 14
Imports from the EC
Beef 46 52 71 52
Live bovines 2 1 4 6

Please note that all data are provisional and subject to amendment.

It is not possible to identify separately the figures for calves and cull cattle, but the figures for exports of live bovines are predominately made up of trade in calves.