HC Deb 31 July 1975 vol 896 cc591-2W
59. Mr. Aitken

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy farmers have applied for the EEC subsidy to enable them to change from producing milk to producing beef; and what percentage this is of the total milk-producing farmers.

Mr. Bishop

To qualify under this scheme applicants must have been registered milk producers on 4th June 1973. Since then the number of registered producers in the United Kingdom has fallen by 10,350 of whom 5,630, or some 6.5 per cent. of producers in June 1973, have had applications approved for the scheme. During the two years preceding June 1973 the number of producers fell by 8,289.