§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the ecu prices per kilo achieved by meat plants for beef accepted for intervention storage in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland since 1996; and if he will make a statement on the reason for differential prices regionally for beef going into intervention storage. [18337]
§ Mr. BaldryDifferential regional prices for intervention purposes only occur in the areas of Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Northern Ireland is considered a separate region for intervention purchases in recognition of the particular importance of the beef sector there, and the effect of its proximity to the Republic of Ireland market.
Prices awarded since March 1996 are as follows:
Date of tender Steers Young bulls Steers Young bulls 9 April1996 261 240 241 220 7 May 1996 245 232 245 232 28 May 1996 234 219 243 225 11 June1996 231 211 240.98 219.99 25 May 1996 247.431 216.237 244.575 223.608 9 July 1997 246.61 217.464 244.23 221.759 23 July 1997 249.872 224.085 242.892 1— 6 August1996 240.784 227.31 230.054 209.6 27 August1996 232.247 218.727 222.936 1— 10 September 1996 228.698 218.481 222.438 1— 24 September 1996 236.234 214.879 225.542 193.964 8 October1996 237.313 215.03 226.211 197.376 22 October1996 238.692 212.412 226.067 1— 12 November 1996 254.809 224.839 232.074 1— 26 November 1996 266 266 266 1— 10 December 1996 266 253.5 266 1— 14 January 1997 273 273 273 1— 28 January 1997 273 273 273 1— 11 February 1997 273 259.961 273 1— 25 February 1997 273 258.081 273 1— 1 No bids submitted.