asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the fact that grain imports are now subject to an EEC monetary compensatory amount of between £18 to £20 per tonne; if he is aware of the heavy burden this imposes on pig, poultry, and other animal feeders; and the action he proposes to take on this problem.

: It is not correct to say that imports of grain into this country are subject to a monetary compensatory amount charge. In fact the reverse is the case. These imports are subject to a monetary compensatory amount subsidy which currently varies from £8 to £9 a tonne depending on the grain involved.