§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average cost per head of cattle for the facilities provided through the intervention board for the beef special premium scheme in markets where there is a throughput of 20 cattle or fewer.
§ Mr. CurryThe estimated average cost per head of cattle for all facilities provided through the intervention board for the beef special premium scheme in markets is £1. Separate information is not available at individual auctions but in general the unit costs at auctions with low throughput would be higher than the average.
§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many markets he expects to be closed as a result of the intervention board's decision to withdraw facilities from market centres where the average throughput for beef special premium purposes is fewer than 10 cattle units per week.
§ Mr. CurryThe decision to withdraw certification facilities from markets and abattoirs which have an average weekly throughput of fewer than 10 cattle units per week was taken by Agriculture Ministers. It represents the application of long established policy to the circumstances of the ending of the sheep variable premium scheme on 5 January.