§ Mr. McLoughlinasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to other European Economic Community countries in which headage payments are made on dairy cows on farms that fall within less favoured areas.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1987, c. 338]: In the United Kingdom we make payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances in excess of £110 million a year to producers in less favoured areas under the EC structures regulation. Apart from the United Kingdom, member states with designated less favoured areas have opted to pay compensatory allowances on dairy cows, subject to restrictions as to numbers and areas and variations in the levels of payment. We have confined payments to breeding cows and sheep. This, in our view, directs the available funds to the best advantage in the light of the United Kingdom's particular circumstances.