§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take action to ensure that beef producers are not more greatly disadvantaged by the effect of the BSE problem than are dairy farmers. [11845]
§ Mr. BaldryInevitably, not all producers will have been affected equally by the BSE problem over the last 10 months, or benefited equally from the wide range of measures which the Government have introduced. While the dairy industry has benefited from the calf processing aid scheme and from the over-30-months scheme for cattle, the beef industry is also receiving direct aid which will be worth over £250 million. The key point is that the survival of the UK beef and dairy industries has been assured. For the longer term, we are committed to ensuring that the beef export ban is lifted and that all other economic conditions are in place to provide both industries with a viable future.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further assessment he has made of the difficulties faced by smaller beef producers.[11846]
§ Mr. BaldryI have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 6 November,Official Report, column 582, other than to note that the total of EU and Exchequer funds being made available in direct support to UK beef producers now stands at over £250 million.