asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost, in the latest year for which figures are available, of disposing of Common Agricultural Policy surplus foodstuffs.

Community expenditure on export refunds and internal disposal subsidies, (including loss on sale out of intervention) for commodities in structural surplus (cereals, sugar, olive oil, wine, beef, milk and milk products) in 1986 was 12,726 million ecu (£8,245 million).