asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of money owing to the various manufacturers for products such as milk powder, butter and beef sold to intervention.
622.
Written Answers. - EC Intervention Stocks.
620.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount of beef, milk powder and butter sold to intervention; the cost to the Exchequer; and where these products are stored.
623.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department are responsible for the late payment to coops and manufacturers for products sold to intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter assuring the industries concerned that payment in future will be made on the date it falls due.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 620, 622 and 623 together.
Total intervention stocks at 31 October 1984 were as follows: Beef (bone-in), 30,375 tonnes; Beef (boneless), 50,068 tonnes; Butter, 79,341 tonnes; Skimmed Milk Powder, 81,238 tonnes.
These stocks were held in stores in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands and on board two ships anchored in Irish waters.
The net cost to the Exchequer of intervention operations in the ten months up to 31 October 1984 was approximately £6.9 million.
There have been no delays in payment in respect of products sold into intervention. Purchases are governed by EC regulations which provide for payment by the intervention agency within specified periods and all payments are made in accordance with these regulations.