§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce special financial measures to assist beef farmers following Government statements on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. [23408]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMechanisms for market support already exist within the common agricultural policy for intervention purchases of beef from steers. In addition, we have announced that we will adopt the EU scheme to provide aid to farmers for the slaughter of young male calves from dairy herds. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is today discussing in Council how best to restore confidence in the beef market.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who depend principally upon beef farming. [23409]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesAccording to the particular farm types in the June 1995 agricultural census, there are an estimated 3,625 farm holdings in Wales where the principal activity is beef farming.
County Cases in dairy herds Farms Cases in mixed herds Farms Cases in beef herds Farms Cases in pedigree beef herds Farms Clwyd 1,865 493 91 37 478 162 1 1 Dyfed 6,428 1,587 530 214 691 418 18 13 Gwent 906 196 63 14 119 77 3 2 Gwynedd 324 146 63 31 271 208 4 5 Powys 969 258 34 11 1,256 697 — — Mid Glamorgan 171 34 8 4 67 37 — — South Glamorgan 369 62 11 4 43 12 — — West Glamorgan 68 28 6 5 40 19 — —