Tobacco

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the norm, premium and intervention prices for tobacco, the amounts taken into intervention, the cost of the tobacco regime to the European Economic Community budget and the proportion of the market supplied from European Economic Community sources.

The information requested is as follows:increase in the intervention price of skimmed milk under the common agricultural policy in European currency units and, after adjustment, in national currencies; what was the purpose of the increase; and by how much production is expected to increase and where it will be disposed of.

In its 1985–86 price proposals, the Commission has proposed an increase of 6·77 per cent. in the intervention price for skimmed milk powder. After the adjustments in green rates proposed by the Commission the increase in national currency terms for all member states would be:

	Percent.
Belgium	+6·77
Denmark	+6·77
Germany	+5·65
France	+7·74
Greece	+10·12
Ireland	+6·77
Italy	+6·77
Luxembourg	+6·77
Netherlands	+5·64
United Kingdom	+6·77

The purpose of this increase, when combined with the proposed reduction of 3·99 per cent. in the intervention price for butter, is to effect a 1·5 per cent. increase in the target price for milk and an adjustment in relationship between the butter and skim element of milk. Total milk production is expected to decline in line with the reduction in quota levels by about 1 per cent. in 1985–86. The level of production of skimmed milk powder will depend on the uptake of whole milk and skimmed milk for various purposes including the use of skimmed milk for animal feeding.