§ Mr. John Ellisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the continuation of brucellosis incentive payments to farmers previously paid as a supplement to the beef cow subsidy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangMy right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales have made a new scheme under Section 106 of the Agriculture Act 1970 to enable brucellosis incentive payments of £5 per annum per breeding cow to be made for dairy and beef herds which do not qualify for these on milk sold through a milk marketing scheme or as a supplement to the hill livestock compensatory allowance. The470W scheme is being laid before Parliament shortly and will come into operation on 26th August 1977. I have also been reviewing the progress of the compulsory eradication programmes and have decided that the start of compulsory eradication in Northamptonshire and Wiltshire will be brought forward from 1st November 1978 to 1st March 1978. This advancement will fit in with the compulsory timetable for adjacent areas.