§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to the European Commission about the new Community rules that farmers who are in a partnership have to declare their percentage interest in their ownership of flocks that are the joint property of the partnership; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this measure on United Kingdom farmers.
§ Mr. MacleanThese rules are contained in EC Commission regulation 2385/91 which lays down a number of measures designed to reinforce the application of ewe premium headage limits which were introduced by the Council in 1989. The United Kingdom played a full part in the discussions on the regulation in management committee and sought in particular to ensure that its provisions were fair and did not discriminate against United Kingdom producers. It is not possible except at disproportionate cost to assess its precise impact.