§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how Her Majesty's Government will allocate any EEC funds made available by way of market support as a result of the sheep-meat regime agreement reached in Brussels by the Council of Ministers on 30 September; and how Northern Ireland will benefit from this new agreement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAll United Kingdom producers including those in Northern Ireland will benefit from Community-financed payments under the sheepmeat regime. Variable premiums are paid on all eligible animals in weeks when the average market price in the United Kingdom falls below a weekly guide level which is substantially higher than that under the previous national scheme. In addition, annual premiums will be paid to producers throughout the United Kingdom, on the basis of the number of ewes in their flocks, to bring their average returns up to the United Kingdom's reference price.