Beef (Hansard, 22 December 1988)

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of South American thin skirt will be imported into(a) Britain and (b) Northern Ireland, as a result of a decision by the European Community beef management committee; and what representations he has received from the meat processing industry in Northern Ireland about the effect of this importation on their market.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
No licences have yet been issued for the import of thin skirt under the quota. However, we understand that in view of the extent to which the quota has been oversubscribed, the quantity for which licences will be issued in the United Kingdom is likely to be less than 300 tonnes. Such representation which my Department has had from meat processors generally

Size of laying flock (fowls) Number of holdings with laying fowls Number of fowls thousands

Per cent. Per cent.

Under 1,000 39,574 94.56 1,442 3.8

1,000-less than 20,000 1,907 4,56 10,547 27.6

20,000-less than 50,000 225 0.54 6,854 17.9

50,000 and over 144 0.34 19,386 50.7

Total 41,850 100 38,229 100

Half the fowls were on holdings with flocks of 50,000 fowls or more.

§ Mr. Lawrence
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the compensation to egg producers announced on 19 December will go to small-scale egg producers.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Payments under the Egg Industry (England and Wales) Scheme, and under the similar schemes for Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be made to egg packers for the destruction of surplus eggs. All egg producers, whether large or small, should benefit from the removal of surplus eggs from the market.

§ Sir Hal Miller
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the introduction of a scheme for the slaughter of laying flocks or the destruction of eggs found to contain salmonella; and if he will give figures for the number of flocks so infected.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
[holding answer 19 December 1988]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 19 December 1988 at column 21.
438W
welcome the opening of this quota in order to re-establish trade disrupted by the Community's adoption of the harmonised system of tariff.

Size of laying flock (fowls)	Number of holdings with laying fowls	Number of fowls thousands
		Per cent.		Per cent.
Under 1,000	39,574	94.56	1,442	3.8
1,000-less than 20,000	1,907	4,56	10,547	27.6
20,000-less than 50,000	225	0.54	6,854	17.9
50,000 and over	144	0.34	19,386	50.7
Total	41,850	100	38,229	100