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17 Dec 2002 : Column 684W—continued

Food Prices

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average (a) farmgate and (b) retail price was of (i) one kilogram of (A) beef, (B) lamb, (C) pork, (D) chicken, (E) turkey, (F) bacon, (G) dessert apples, (H) potatoes, (I) tomatoes, (J) cauliflower and (K) peas, (ii) one pint of (A) milk, (B) cream and (C) yoghurt, (iii) one dozen eggs and (iv) one litre of (A) English wine and (B) brandy in (1) 1980, (2) 1985, (3) 1990, (4) 1995 and (5) 2000, distinguishing between (I) organic and (II) conventionally produced foodstuffs. [86309]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 December 2002]: The farmgate and retail prices of conventionally grown foodstuffs, where available, are shown in table 1. Prices are not collected for English wine or brandy. Small quantities of cream and yoghurt are sold at the farmgate direct to consumers at retail prices. The amount of processing taking place between farmgate and retail varies from commodity to commodity; an indication is given in the table. Farmgate prices include produce destined for highly processed food, which is normally lower quality and sells at a lower price. Changes to the level of processing over time will impact on the trends shown within the table.

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Prices of organically produced food are only available for 1998 onwards. Indications of farmgate prices in 2000

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are shown in table 2, where available, as provided by the Soil Association. There are no retail prices available.

Table 1. Conventionally grown produce

		1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	Indication of further processing
Beef
Farmgate value(1)	#/kg	1.44	1.67	2.00	2.31	1.69
Retail value(2)	#/kg	2.21	2.83	3.55	3.82	3.80	Slaughtered, trimmed and cut
Lamb
Farmgate value(1)	#/kg	1.28	1.67	1.68	2.28	1.90
Retail value(2)	#/kg	2.18	2.72	3.17	3.96	4.52	Slaughtered, trimmed and cut
Pork
Farmgate value(1)	#/kg	0.87	1.03	1.12	1.20	0.95
Retail value(2)	#/kg	1.17	1.45	1.84	1.88	2.00	Slaughtered, trimmed and cut
Chicken
Farmgate value(3)	#/kg	n/a	0.90	0.87	0.84	0.71
Retail value(4)	#/kg	1.48	1.76	2.16	2.03	2.23	Slaughtered
Turkey
Farmgate value(3)	#/kg	n/a	1.41	1.21	1.24	1.30
Retail value	#/kg	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Slaughtered
Bacon
Farmgate value(1)	#/kg	0.87	1.03	1.012	1.20	0.95
Retail value(2)	#/kg	1.48	1.91	2.50	2.71	3.10	Slaughtered, trimmed and cut
Apples, dessert
Farmgate value(5)	#/kg	0.26	0.37	0.50	0.44	0.36
Retail value(6)	#/kg	0.53	0.70	1.04	1.01	1.08	Packing and grading where off farm
Potatoes
Farmgate value(5)	#/kg	0.05	0.05	0.10	0.19	0.08
Retail value(7)	#/kg	0.13	0.18	0.33	0.70	0.67	Packing and grading where off farm
Tomatoes
Farmgate value(5)	#/kg	0.49	0.49	0.70	0.60	0.75
Retail value(6)	#/kg	0.99	1.06	1.43	1.15	1.50	Packing and grading where off farm
Cauliflower
Farmgate value(5)	#/kg	0.19	0.21	0.24	0.28	0.24
Retail value(6)	#/kg	0.22	0.36	0.58	0.62	0.57	Packing and grading where off farm
Peas
Farmgate value(8)	#/kg	n/a	0.25	0.52	0.45	0.57
Retail value	#/kg	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Milk
Farmgate value(9)	#/pint	0.07	0.09	0.10	0.14	0.10
Retail value(6)	#/pint	0.17	0.23	0.31	0.36	0.34	Pasteurised, bottled and delivered
Eggs
Farmgate value(10)	# dozen	0.44	0.48	0.54	0.53	0.53
Retail value(6)	# dozen	0.68	0.92	1.13	1.31	1.60	Packing and grading where off farm

⁽¹⁾ Source: MLC, Defra

⁽²⁾ Source: MLC for 2000, other years derived by applying RPI for the item to 2000 value

⁽³⁾ Average producer price (p/kg carcase weight). Source: Defra

⁽⁴⁾ Chicken, roasting, fresh. Source: ONS

⁽⁵⁾ Average farmgate prices for 1985–86, 1990–91, 1995–96, 2000–01. Source: Defra

⁽⁶⁾ Source: ONS

⁽⁷⁾ Old white loose potatoes, not including pre-packed. Source: ONS

⁽⁸⁾ Peas, green for market. Source: Defra

⁽⁹⁾ Source: MMBs, Defra

⁽¹⁰⁾ Source: Defra

Table 2. Organically grown produce

Farm gate value		2000
Beef	#/kg	2.60
Lamb	#/kg	3.00
Pork	#/kg	2.20
Chicken	#/kg	3.75
Turkey	#/kg	n/a
Bacon	#/kg	n/a
Apples, dessert	#/kg	1.00
Potatoes	#/kg	0.25–0.30
Tomatoes	#/kg	n/a
Cauliflower	#/kg	0.70
Peas	#/kg	2.57
Milk(11)	#/pint	0.16–0.17
Cream	#/pint	n/a
Yoghurt	#/pint	n/a
Eggs	# dozen	1.40

⁽¹¹⁾ All milk was sold as organic in 2000. From early 2001, the market for milk became oversupplied and some organic milk was sold into the conventional market.

Notes:

1. n/a—not available.

2. No farm gate values prior to 1998 are available.

3. No retail prices are available

Fish Quotas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the EU's plans for white fish quotas and their effects on the UK. [87013]

Mr. Morley: The cuts in total allowable catches proposed for 2003 by Commissioner Fischler would correspond, in fisheries which are of critical interest to

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the UK industry, to a reduction of 80 per cent. in fishing effort on cod and haddock and of 75 per cent. on whiting. I do agree that we cannot ignore the scientific advice that radical action is needed to prevent the collapse of the cod stocks, but the action proposed would have a devastating effect on our fishing industry. I am determined to negotiate an alternative approach which will give sustainable fishing opportunities to our industry, while still respecting the scientific advice and leading to stock recovery.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries

Dr. Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further consideration she has given to the recommendation of the report of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group; whether legislation is planned to bring these reconciliations into law; and if she will make a statement. [87141]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 December 2002]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 129W.

I can confirm that the Government intend to introduce proposals for new salmon and fresh water fisheries legislation to implement the agreed changes when parliamentary time permits.

EU Fisheries Council

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) the outcome of the EU Fisheries Council Meeting on fish quotas for 2003 and (b) the effect it will have on Northern Ireland's fishing fleet. [87099]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 December 2002]: Total allowable catches and quotas for 2003 are due to be determined at the meeting of the Council of Ministers which started on the 16 December. The Council is likely to last for several days, and I will of course be happy to comment on the outcome when it is known.

Fixed Assets

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value is of the fixed assets held by her Department, its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and public corporations. [85010]

Margaret Beckett: The total value of the fixed assets held by DEFRA, its agencies, NDPBs and public corporations is #2,625,564,000 (as detailed in the table):

#000

NDPB	Land and buildings	Plant and machinery	Total
Apple and Pear Research Council	0	0	0
British Potato Council	518	129	647
Countryside Agency	3,488	789	4,277
English Nature	3,612	5,202	8,814
Environment Agency	—	—	1,962,211
Home Grown Cereals Authority	0	163	163
Horticultural Development Council	0	52	52
Horticulture Research International	44,982	1,608	46,590
Meat and Livestock Commission	4,649	601	5,250
Milk Development Council	0	41	41
National Forest Company	1,551	0	1,551
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew	57,386	3,331	60,717
Sea Fish Industry Authority	2,945	524	3,469
Wine Standards Board	0	7	7
Total	119,131	12,447	2,093,789
Total DEFRA and agencies			531,775
			2,625,564

17 Dec 2002 : Column 688W

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