§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial assistance he plans to provide to beef farmers in Shropshire during the period that the European beef ban remains in force. [1064]
§ Mr. RookerShropshire beef farmers continue to benefit from the considerable volume of public expenditure which is being used to underpin the beef market, through the Over Thirty Month and Calf Processing Aid Schemes, and the extended intervention arrangements. In addition, they continue to be able to claim for Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances, through which they received over £13 million in 1996–97.