§ 10. Mr. Nicholsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider introducing a scheme in Northern Ireland to purchase, and then redistribute, milk quotas from those who wish to retire from the industry.
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Butler)Yes. A number of suggestions have been made by and on behalf of the industry, and we are considering them urgently.
§ Mr. NicholsonI welcome the Minister's answer. Does he agree that the present quota system is biting deep for dairy farmers in Northern Ireland? Does he agree also that something must be done urgently to alleviate that, as those farmers must cut production, not by 9 per cent., but by 14 to 15 per cent.? Will something be done to relieve the problem quickly?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is exactly because of the special problems of Northern Ireland that we are considering the type of measures to relieve some of the difficulties to which I have referred. I can go no further than that at this stage.