§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial or other arrangements he proposes to make to alleviate the financial problems now affecting the beef industry in Northern Ireland.
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§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 14 May 1990]: The Northern Ireland beef sector will benefit considerably from the changes agreed at the recent EC price-fixing negotiations. It is estimated that returns to beef producers will increase by about £8 million in a full year as a result of the changes in beef support and agrimonetary arrangements which were secured. The Northern Ireland beef sector should benefit, in particular, from the reduction in monetary compensation amounts on trade in cattle and beef across the land border with the Republic of Ireland and with other regions of the EC.