§ Ms StuartTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is the Government's intention to participate in the EU Surplus Food Scheme in 1998; and if he will make a statement. [21658]
§ Mr. RookerYes. The European Commission has allocated the United Kingdom some £20.3 million to operate the Scheme during 1998. Approximately 10 million cans of stewed steak will be made available to local authorities and to charitable and other non-profit making organisations to distribute to those on Income Support, Family Credit, Jobseekers Allowance (income based only) or Disability Working Allowance, the homeless and destitute and those living in welfare hostels.
The Scheme will involve only UK intervention beef which contains no offal and will be from animals killed when they were under thirty months of age and is no different from the meat currently available in the shops.
I am pleased that this surplus beef is to be put to good use.