§ 5. Mr. PaiceIf she will make a statement about the state of the beef industry in Northern Ireland. [12411]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Tony Worthington)There has been a gradual recovery in consumer demand for Northern Ireland beef during 1997. In spite of that, average market prices for most of the year to date have remained below those in 1996 and the total return to beef farmers in 1997 is likely to fall by 10 per cent. to 12 per cent. compared with 1996.
§ Mr. PaiceI thank the Minister for that response. Given that Northern Ireland already has a computerised database for cattle tracing and that such a system was a requirement of the veterinary advisory committee to the Commission for the implementation of a certified herds scheme, is it the Government's intention to seek a lifting of the export ban through a certified herds system for beef from Northern Ireland, as opposed to beef from the rest of the United Kingdom, and in advance of a system for the rest of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. WorthingtonIt was a UK ban and the UK ban has to be lifted, but one of the proposals put forward is that an indication that herds are BSE free can be made through the system that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. As parts of the United Kingdom qualify for coming out of the ban, that will occur; but Northern Ireland herds are currently at that stage.