To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of stewed beef are currently in intervention storage; what plans he has for their distribution to (a) recipients of benefits and (b) asylum seekers not in receipt of benefits; and if he will make a statement. [10725]

The EU surplus food scheme, as laid down by EU regulation 3149/92, as amended, allows member states to remove certain intervention stocks of produce from store and supply it to the poor and needy via charitable organisations. This year, the UK is withdrawing 5,000 tonnes of UK intervention beef from stock and arranging for it to be processed into canned stewed steak and distributed to more than 850 charities, local authorities and other non-profit-making organisations. Individuals eligible to receive the beef will each receive up to eight cans free or for a nominal charge.Asylum seekers do not qualify in their own right to receive the food made available under the scheme. This is because eligibility for produce under the scheme had to be limited. In the UK, we have decided, in consultation with the Department of Social Security, to limit the eligibility criteria to those in receipt of income support, family credit, jobseeker's allowance—income-based only—disability working allowance, to the homeless and destitute and to those living in welfare hostels. Asylum seekers falling into any of these eligible groups may receive food under the scheme.