§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are available either from EEC funds or United Kingdom sources, for dairy farmers wishing to convert to beef production; and, if none is currently payable, whether any such schemes are contemplated.
§ Mr. BishopNo such grant schemes are currently open, but instalments are still being paid on premiums approved under the dairy herd conversion scheme before it closed on 31st December 1974. The EEC Commission has proposed, as part of its package of measures to restore the equilibrium of the dairy sector, a scheme under which milk producers would, subject to certain conditions, be eligible for premiums if they undertook to retain cattle or sheep on their land and to refrain from selling milk.