§ 40. Mr. Knoxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the beef variable premium scheme is adequate to maintain the profitability of beef production in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe beef variable premium scheme is the first line of support for our beef producers, but it is backed up by other schemes such as intervention, export refunds and the suckler cow premium. In the current negotiations about farm prices and other measures for the 1983–84 marketing year, I shall continue to pay due regard to the need to maintain the profitability of beef production in this country.