§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals for the improvement of the quality of British livestock; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe primary impetus for the improvement of the quality of British livestock must come from the marketplace where quality products will receive a premium return if they are marketed effectively.
The Government encourage quality production directly by aiding specialist beef production through the suckler cow premium scheme currently worth over £71 million per year to the industry. In addition, the Government fund a programme of research and development projects costing over £1 million per year to improve techniques for the selection of breeding stock and for the transmission of desirable genetic characteristics from one generation to the next.