§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid under the beef 528W premium scheme in each of the last five years on fatstock imported from the Republic of Ireland, excluding imported store cattle, in this financial year to date; if he is satisfied that payment made from United Kingdom taxation revenue should be used to finance support premiums for the agriculture industry in the Republic of Ireland, and whether he will terminate this arrangement at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithPayments under the beef premium scheme in respect of imports from the Republic of Ireland for the five most recent complete marketing years have been as follows:
Marketing Year £ 1975–76 2,353,774 1976–77 401.097 1977–78 1,587,669 1978–79 nil 1979–80 446,061 (provisional) Details of payments in the current marketing year, which began on 2 June, are not yet available.
These payments, of which 25 per cent. is met by Community funds, are made in accordance with Community regulations and have formed part of the general arrangements for the beef premium scheme since it was first introduced in 1974, and to change this would mean a renegotiation of the beef premium scheme, the continuation of which has the fullest support of our farmers.