§ Mr. Langasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet completed his consideration of the request from the farmers' unions for additional assistance to hill livestock producers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerWe shall be implementing the 50p increase in the higher rate of hill sheep allowance announced on 9 March and draft amending regulations are being laid before Parliament today.
730WMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I have carefully considered the needs for still further assistance to hill livestock producers in view of the severe weather earlier this year.
We fully recognise that in many parts of the country hill livestock producers, and hill sheep farmers in particular, have encountered serious difficulties because of the severe and prolonged winter, including sharply increased feed costs. Fortunately, both sheep and cattle markets are at present very firm.
We believe that a judgment on the need for any additional aid for hill livestock producers should be deferred until we can take proper account of the prices obtained during the main selling period of lambs and stores this autumn.
In October we shall consult with the farmers' unions to see whether, after consideration of the prices obtained, the increased costs, the problems of restoring flocks to their former size and general economic conditions, a further increase in payments is justified. In November we shall announce any justified payments and in the event of such payments being necessary they will be paid with the payments due to hill livestock producers at the beginning of 1980.