§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the quantity by weight of the main primary food products imported to the UK for the last two years for which figures are available. [17723]
§ Mr. RookerI have been asked to reply.
Imports of food products in a raw form or which retain their recognisable raw form, as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics, for 1995 and 1996 are given in the following table:
UK imports of food products in a raw form or which retain their recognisable raw form 000 tonnes Category 1995 1996 Bovine meat 153 133 Pig meat 399 440 Poultry meat 229 234 Sheep meat 143 145 Other meat 42 48 Total meat and meat preparations 966 1,000 Birds' eggs 28 30 Butter 114 113 Cheese 213 252 Milk and cream 216 158 Other milk products 23 19 Total dairy products and birds' eggs 594 572 Fish 495 534 Cereals 3,202 2,848 Fruit 3,300 3,408 Nuts 98 85 Vegetables 3,060 2,898 Total vegetables, fruit and nuts 6,457 6,392 Sugar 2,314 2,188 Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices 557 661 Oils and fats 9,279 10,027 Grand total 23,865 24,222 These figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
The majority of foods in the categories "Oils and Fats" and "Vegetables" are destined for human consumption, but include some products used for other purposes.