HC Deb 19 November 1985 vol 87 c98W
Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to safeguard the interest of sheep farmers in Wales during the next year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Support arrangements for the sheepmeat sector in the next year will be considered as part of the 1986 common agricultural policy price-fixing negotiations. The sheepmeat regime has brought substantial benefits to Wales and in the last marketing year 1984–85 payments of £39.8 million were made to Welsh sheep producers. In addition in 1984 payments to producers in Wales for sheep under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme totalled £17.9 million.