§ 5. Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the returns of meat producers in the Province in view of the marked difference in prices between Ulster markets and those in Great Britain.
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Stanley Orme)The arrangements which apply to Northern Ireland within the overall United Kingdom variable premium scheme ensure that in most weeks total producer returns for beef cattle are no more than £1 per live hundredweight below those in Great Britain. The arrangements do not, however, provide for payment of variable premium in Northern Ireland in those weeks when premia are not justified on a United Kingdom basis. In recent weeks the differential between Great Britain and Northern Ireland market prices has not been greater than about £1 per live hundredweight.
The Department of Agriculture is encouraging producers to become more involved in the marketing and processing of their fatstock. Prices paid by processors for pigs in Northern Ireland are broadly comparable with those paid in Great Britain, but sheep prices in Northern Ireland are a little below those in Great Britain.
§ Mr. FarrI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that information. Will the Government give full backing to the new Ulster marketing scheme, which was introduced a couple of weeks ago? In particular, will the Government help it to achieve a better return for producers in the Province?
§ Mr. OrmeI have told the hon. Gentleman that the Government are responsible for bringing that scheme into operation. We certainly want it to succeed. As the hon. Gentleman probably knows, the basic problem is that of transport costs between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. That matter must be dealt with.