§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales by what percentage the Welsh beef breeding herd has declined in the course of the last decade.
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§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe beef breeding herd in Wales has fluctuated over the last decade and at June 1981 stood 1.7 per cent. above the level of June 1971.
§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make use of his discretionary powers to increase the level of the beef premium by a further £10 per animal in view of the continuous decline in the Welsh beef breeding herd and the support given by their governments to foreign agricultural competitors, particularly in the Republic of Ireland and Italy.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo. The reduction in FEOGA funding of the suckler cow premium in 1982–83 has already been restored from national funds. Producers should also benefit from the 11 per cent. increase in support prices and from the increased maximum amount payable under the variable beef premium scheme obtained in the last CAP price settlement. In the less favoured area beef producers are receiving the highest ever level of hill livestock compensatory allowances on cattle.
Account has to be taken of the total package of support given to agriculture and economic conditions generally so that comparisons with other countries on individual commodities can be misleading. It is encouraging to note that the decline in the beef breeding herd has slowed down in recent years.