§ 30. Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is having in the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the European Economic Community in respect of the future of the sheepmeat producing sector of the agriculture industry.
§ Mr. GummerIn the Council discussions of the Commission's proposals for this year's price fixing I have made it clear that we are opposed to the proposal that eligibility for sheep annual premium should be restricted to the first 500 ewes in any flock (or 1,000 in the less-favoured areas) which would not only unfairly discriminate against the United Kingdom, but would tend to penalise efficiency and inhibit progress towards structural improvements within the Community. I have also expressed our opposition to the proposal to amalgamate Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland into one region for the purposes of the regime.