§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the sheepmeat production ceiling for the United Kingdom in 1988–89 set by the European Community; what it was in 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe Community has not set sheepmeat production ceilings for either year. However, agreement has been reached on a budgetary stabiliser for this sector, as for many other CAP commodities. This is to be based on maximum guarantee thresholds set at the 1987 ewe flock in Great Britain and the rest of the Community and provides for 1988 and beyond a 1 per cent. cut in the basic and derived support prices for sheepmeat for each 1 per cent. overshoot in the MGLs. The detailed regulations are being finalised in discussions in the Council and elsewhere.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have been announced by the European Commission in the mechanism for calculating the premium payments on ewe headage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonIn its proposals for the review of the sheepmeat regime, the European Commission envisages new methods of calculating annual ewe premia throughout the Community based on EC-12 market prices. No decisions have yet been taken on these or other aspects of the Commission's proposals.