§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what administrative arrangements will be applied in connection with the payment of the Community special beef premium at livestock markets for slaughter and at slaughterhouses to comply with the condition that the premium may not be paid on more than 90 male animals from any farm; and if he will take any steps to ensure that cattle breeders in the less favoured areas will benefit from this scheme.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonIn reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) my right hon. Friend announced on 6 March that the Community special premium for beef would in the first instance be applied in Great Britain when cattle are sold at live markets for slaughter and at slaughterhouses. Each beef producer may apply for premium on up to 90 head of male animals per year; this condition will be controlled centrally through computer systems on which the scheme will be run. Farming and trade interests see advantage in applying the premium on-farm, which would help to ensure that breeders in the less favoured areas would benefit directly from the scheme. Agriculture Ministers will review the practicability and cost effectiveness of moving in due course to an on-farm basis.