asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the amount of butter imported in 1983, 1984 and 1985 into EC member states and its value; the place of origin and destination of these imports; if he will comment on the amounts and costs of butter intervention for the EC for the same period; and the reasons offered by the Commission as to why these imports of butter are allowed having regard to the problems now being faced by the dairy farmers in this country.
Written Answers. - Butter Imports.
199.
Total imports of butter to the EC during 1983 and 1984 were 104.9 thousand tonnes and 88.7 thousand tonnes respectively. The estimated value of this butter was £200 million in 1983 and £160 million in 1984. The final 1985 figure is not yet available but the quantity will not differ greatly from the 1984 level. Almost all of the butter was imported by the United Kingdom under the special quota arrangements for New Zealand butter. During the period 1983 to 1985 a total of 1.6 million tonnes of butter was bought into intervention in the Community and the holding and disposal costs for the same period were £1,650 million.
Special arrangements governing imports of butter to the Community from New Zealand were originally provided for under Protocol 18 of the Treaty of Accession. The reason given for these special arrangements, which have been renewed at reduced quantities on three occasions, was the overriding importance to the New Zealand economy of its traditional access to the United Kingdom and in return New Zealand's co-operation in the orderly development of world markets.