§ 18. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons of fruit and vegetables were disposed of in the EU in the last financial year; and what the totals were for each item. [4687]
§ Margaret BeckettProvisional figures indicate that some 1.3 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables were withdrawn from the EU market between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001. Just under 10,000 tonnes of this were withdrawn in the UK, 10 per cent. of which was distributed free or used for animal feed. Information on the quantity of individual products will be placed in the Library of the House.
Product Tonnes withdrawn in EU Tonnes withdrawn in UK Cauliflowers 47,777 7,779 Tomatoes 153,717 — Apples 269,145 161 Grapes 59 — Apricots 15,043 — Nectarines 118,354 — Peaches 255,628 — Pears 91,082 1,977 Aubergines 1,802 — Melons 14,435 — Water melons 10,610 — Oranges 229,980 — Mandarins 3,562 — Clementines 90,595 — Satsumas 6,663 — Lemons 9,474 —