§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the prospects for sheepmeat production. [69540]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesI anticipate a marked increase in sheepmeat production following a heavy carry-over of the 1998 lamb crop into the 1999 season coupled with producers retaining ewes which would otherwise have been culled out.
96WAn industry-led Action Plan for the Lamb and Beef sectors will be published shortly, with the support of the Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.