Mr. Mark Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the British Government pay to the Eire Government a sum equivalent to the value of the variable premium, if payable at any particular time, in respect of beef imported into Great Britain from that country;
(2) if, in the event of Southern Irish beef being imported into Great Britain and then re-exported to continental EEC countries, in addition to an MCA collection on entry and an MCA payable on exit, variable premiums are payable when the domestic British market price falls below the breakeven point of target price and headage payment.
§ Mr. StrangAs my right hon. Friend told the House on 21st November 1974, as part of the arrangements concluded in the Council of Agricultural Ministers for variable premiums for beef it was agreed that variable premium would be paid on eligible beet imported from the Irish Republic into the United Kingdom. As a result of the Council's decision in February on the new beef régime this arrangement is continuing during the beef marketing year of 1975–76. It is similar to that which operated during the life of the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme for 303W beef and is in accordance with the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement. Payments are made direct to the Government of the Republic, but only on beef which enters the United Kingdom for domestic consumption and not on beef in transit through the United Kingdom.