§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the hardship among large numbers of dairy farmers in Northern Ireland resulting from the imposition of dairy quotas; and if he will establish an exceptional hardship provision under paragraph 16, schedule 8 to the Dairy Produce Quota Regulations 1986; and if he will make appropriate arrangements for its administration.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonAs elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the dairy sector in Northern Ireland has successfully come to terms with the difficulties arising from the introduction of milk quotas. I have no plans at present to make a new exceptional hardship provision under regulation 16 of the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1986.