§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the state of the farm livestock market in Wales. [21983]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTrade at livestock markets has been affected by the wider problems facing farmers recently, particularly beef producers. Since September 1997, prices and the number of animals traded have both been on a generally downward trend. The Government announced on 22 December 1997,Official Report, columns 677–98, a substantial one-off aid package of £85 million to help alleviate the current difficulties that producers face. In the longer term, the Government believe that there needs to be a substantial restructuring of the European beef industry and we will be having early consultations with the farming industry on this.