HC Deb 01 November 1974 vol 880 cc15-6W
Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of animal fodder exports during the past three months; how this compares with the corresponding period a year ago; what representations he has received requesting a temporary ban on such exports; and what answers he has given.

Mr. Bishop

Exports of animal fodder for the three months July-September 1974 as compared with the corresponding period last year were as follows:

payments for beef cattle as sanctioned by the Common Market.

Mr. Bishop

The premium scheme has not prevented the fall in prices for fat cattle this autumn, nor could it have been expected to do so. The present low prices are largely due to the extremely high numbers of cattle now being put on the market. But premium payments are a valuable supplement to producers' returns from the market in this difficult period, and will increase over the winter.