HC Deb 14 January 1985 vol 71 cc10-1W
Mr. Nicholson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many litres of milk had been purchased from farmers in Northern Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, under the Government's buy out scheme by the end of 1984; and what percentage of total milk production this represents;

(2) how many farmers in Northern Ireland have yet to decide to sell their quotas to the buy-out scheme; and what percentage of total farmers who have been invited to sell their quotas this represents.

Dr. Boyson

At the end of December 1984, 165 producers were committed to the milk supplementary levy (outgoers) scheme, involving 10.75 million litres of milk — about 0.8 per cent. of the wholesale quota for 1984–85. One hundred and thirty-one farmers had yet to decide, most having been permitted to delay their decisions pending the outcome of their special case applications for extra quota allocations under the provisions of the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1984. These producers represent 23 per cent. of those who were initially invited to proceed as outgoers.