§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the relative impact of the milk quota scheme in Northern Ireland on small farmers; if he will carry out a review of the operation of the milk quota; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersA review of the operation of the milk quota regime was carried out last year. The relative impact of milk quotas on small farmers (for this purpose those with under 200,000 litres of quota) was ameliorated by a small producer award of approximately 11 per cent. of their quota, and for those small producers who successfully applied for additional quota on development grounds an award of 95 per cent. of tribunal determinations as opposed to the 64.7 per cent. award for large producers. The latest available data demonstrate that the profitability of milk production has been maintained by producers whether large or small.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not propose to conduct a further review.