HC Deb 30 June 1975 vol 894 cc346-7W
Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county and by acreage those areas in Wales which will be eligible for assistance under the EEC Less Favoured Areas Directive, indicating whether such areas coincide with those farming areas currently eligible for hill subsidies.

Mr. John Morris

The county lists are set out in EEC Directive 75/276/EEC of 28th April 1975, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities dated 19th May 1975. The list is lengthy, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has sent the hon. Member a copy. The publication in question is available in the Library of the House. All the existing areas in Wales eligible for the full range of hill grants and subsidies totalling some 2¼ million acres are included. No county acreages can be made available without disproportionate work and cost.

Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the potential difficulties of the autumn for hill and marginal calf rearers, if he will consider reducing the certifying weight of heifer calves when fat to 5 cwt.

Mr. John Morris

No. The Beet Premium Scheme is a Community scheme and the premiums are payable only on adult clean cattle of not less than 6½ cwt. Moreover, to lower the minimum weight to 5 cwt. for heifers would encourage the marketing of immature cattle. This would damage the market for finished cattle in the autumn and could lead thereafter to a shortfall in beef supplies.