Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers receive the subsidy of £39.80 per head for sheep which are neither kept for breeding lambs nor for having their wool shorn; and if he will make a statement on the practice of keeping non-productive sheep for the purpose of collecting the sheep subsidy. [24958]
§ Mr. AncramTo be eligible for sheep annual premium, animals need only be females at least 12 months of age or have given birth to a lamb. Northern Ireland statistics on this scheme do not identify the purposes for which eligible animals are kept.