§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average price of beef(a) on the world market and (b) in the United Kingdom in each quarter of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [21759]
§ Mr. RookerThere is no unique measure of the world price for beef. The information in the table is indicative of general trends in recent years.
The Government consider that reform of the beef regime of the Common Agricultural Policy is essential. A necessary element in this reform is a reduction in the support price for beef as recently suggested by the European Commission as part of the Agenda 2000 package.
Pence per kg deadweight Argentina FOB beef export price Average steer price in Great Britain1 1992 Q1 105 197 Q2 101 199 Q3 105 202 Q4 141 203 1993 Q1 136 224 Q2 125 247 Q3 138 237 Q4 134 219 1994 Q1 133 224 Q2 126 231 Q3 120 216 Q4 124 216 1995 Q1 120 221 Q2 120 224 Q3 122 226 Q4 129 232 1996 Q1 122 219 Q2 114 186 Q3 112 179 Q4 111 188 1997 Q1 109 189 Q2 112 169 Q3 n/a 184 Notes:
n/a=not available.
1Prices for Great Britain have been used as these are published on a broadly comparable basis to the Argentina export price.
Source:
Meat and Livestock Commission.