§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total amount paid out to sheep farmers under (a) the European Economic Community scheme and (b) national schemes; what is the current sheep population in the United Kingdom; what it was before the European Economic Community scheme was introduced; what is the division of the sheep population between hill pastures and other pastures in each case; and what was the division of the moneys between hill farmers and others in each case.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn respect of the 1979–80 marketing year United Kingdom sheep fanners received £11 million through the national fat sheep guarantee494W scheme and £44 million from the 1980 payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances—which are partly funded from Community agricultural guidance funds.
The European Community sheepmeat regime was introduced on 20 October 1980. In the 1980–81 marketing year up to that date £33 million was paid to United Kingdom sheep farmers under the FSGS. Payments under the regime of about £48 million in sheep variable premium and about £9 million in sheep annual premium are expected to be made in respect of the period from 20 October 1980 to the end of the 1980–81 marketing year. The 1981 payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances on sheep totalled £50 million.
The December census figures for the United Kingdom total sheep population were 21,721,000 in 1979 and 21,722,000 in 1980. Hill livestock compensatory allowances are paid only to hill farmers in the less-favoured areas designated under the terms of European Community directive 75/268. It is not possible to divide the other figures given between hill farmers and others.