§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum support for beef and sheep farmers in less-favoured areas, for severely disadvantaged areas and for disadvantaged areas— marginal land—respectively, allowable under EC regulations in terms of pounds per hectare; and what is the United Kingdom limit, in similar terms, for these categories.
§ Mr. MacleanEuropean Community Council regulation 797/85, as amended, sets a maximum compensatory allowance for cattle and ewes of 102 ecu per hectare of total forage area of the holding in the less-favoured areas. At current green rates, this is equivalent to £77.33.
Under United Kingdom regulations, payments are limited to £62.48 per hectare in the severely disadvantaged areas and £46.86 per hectare in the disadvantaged areas.
Total expenditure under the 1991 scheme is expected to be around £142 million, reflecting a 14 per cent. increase over the previous year.