§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the difference in market price per live hundredweight for beef cattle produced in the Province and in Great Britain; and what action is being taken by the Government to assist herd owners.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe provisional figure for the differential between average market prices in the week beginning 13th January 1975 for clean cattle in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is £2.57. Since the week beginning 18th November 1974, when United Kingdom target prices supported by variable premia were introduced, the payment of an additional 70p per cwt. variable premium to Northern Ireland the in most weeks has reduced the differential in total average returns between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is hoped 355W that the new and more permanent support arrangements for beef to be negotiated in Brussels will restore the confidence of beef producers and breeding herd owners.
Owners of cattle breeding herds throughout the United Kingdom are benefiting from the additional £10 per head calf subsidy applicable since April 1974 and will benefit further by the bringing forward of the 1975 payments under the hill cow, beef cow and breeding herd schemes.