§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his present estimate of the breeding flock of ewes in England and Wales and the number of ewes on which hill livestock compensatory allowance was(a) claimed and (b) paid in 1989 and 1988.
§ Mr. CurryWe estimate that the total breeding flock is currently 9.3 million ewes in England and 5.1 million ewes in Wales. The number of ewes on which hill livestock compensatory allowances were paid in the last two years is as follows:
England million Wales million 1988 3.2 3.9 11989 3.4 4.0 1 Provisional. Figures on the number of ewes on which HLCAs have been claimed are not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.