Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to ensure that cattle on which the slaughter premium and variable premiums have been paid in Northern Ireland are not later sent to Eire where the premiums can be drawn a second time.
§ Mr. BishopUnder the EEC regulations that have operated in the United Kingdom since the beef premium scheme was introduced on 5th August 1974 payments of premium may be made on qualified live cattle sold in the United Kingdom including cattle imported from the Irish Republic. To prevent double payments of premium all cattle certified in the United Kingdom are permanently marked at certification so that other member States are able to ensure that carcases from animals so marked are not certified a second time.