§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the base year for suckler cows and sheep used to establish the quota for herds and flocks.
§ Mr. CurryFor suckler cow premium, the Government have chosen to base quotas on claims in respect of the 1992 marketing year.
For ewe premium, individual producers will receive quota equal to their eligible sheep numbers in 1991, provided they also made a valid claim in 1992. However, the total quota available to the United Kingdom industry will be based on the number of eligible animals in the national flock in 1990. The difference between the 1991 and 1990 numbers—some 320,000 ewes—will be used to create the national ewe premium quota reserve.
These decisions provide the United Kingdom suckler cow and sheep industries with the maximum quota permitted under the Council regulations.