HC Deb 11 July 1996 vol 281 c311W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his calculation of the amount of moneys required by the beef industry from his Department in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [24323]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 18 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 27 June 1996, Official Report, column 234.

Mr. Marlow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those areas where the Government are entitled to pay compensation within the beef and ancillary industries compatible with EU law. [23999]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 2 April 1996]: National compensation measures must conform with the requirements of articles 92 and 93 of the treaty of Rome, which prohibits aids which distort or threaten to distort competition. All national measures must be notified to the Commission which has the power to decide on the compatibility of the aid with the treaty. The Commission has approved the following emergency market support measures necessitated by the present circumstances of the UK beef market: financial assistance to the rendering and slaughtering industries, supplementary compensation on steers and heifers; and compensation for bulls aged between 24 and 30 months in Northern Ireland.

Other measures to support the market in beef include: premiums payable on beef cows and other male animals under the suckler cow and beef special premium schemes; beef offered for sale into intervention when average market prices in the EU fall below 84 per cent. of the intervention price and where, in an individual member state, the average market price falls below 80 per cent. of the intervention price; premiums payable on male dairy calves taken out of production by the age of 10 days; and subject to upper limits, compensation paid in respect of UK animals aged over 30 months which are currently unable to be sold into the human food chain.