§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans for the introduction of headage payments in respect of beef cattle.
§ Mr. MacGregorUnder the suckler cow subsidy scheme, headage payments for beef cows were introduced in the United Kingdom in 1980. In addition, United Kingdom beef producers benefit from variable premium payments on slaughtered cattle.
§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the headage payments made in respect of beef cattle by other member states of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn addition to the basic FEOGA-funded suckler cow subsidy of 15ecus per head payable throughout the Community, I understand that France, Italy, Greece and Belgium pay a national supplement from their own funds of up to 25ecus per head. In the Irish Republic — and Northern Ireland — a supplement of 20ecus per head is funded by FEOGA.