§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current size of the dairy herd; how many cows have been slaughtered in the United Kingdom in 1980 under the EEC scheme; and what payments have been made in connection with such slaughtering.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe current size of the dairy herd in the United Kingdom is 3,226,000. Dairy cows brought within the provisions of the non-marketing of milk and conversion premium scheme do not have to be slaughtered. However it is a condition of the scheme that if they are disposed of, they must go either for immediate slaughter, or for export to countries outside the European Community. Between January and October this year 73,815 dairy animals were slaughtered or exported under this provision. During 1980, payments totalling £25.5 million were made up to the end of November in respect of cows covered by approved applications under the scheme.