§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of beef herds in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which would be eligible under the export certified herds scheme for re-entry into world beef markets; [9548]
(2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of beef herds in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and d) Northern Ireland which would be eligible under a date-based certified herds scheme, using a cut-off date of 1 August 1996, for re-entry into world beef markets. [9549]
§ Mr. RookerDiscussions on an export certified herds scheme and a date-based export scheme are still at an early stage in Brussels. Some 84 per cent. of beef suckler herds in Great Britain and 98 per cent. of such herds in Northern Ireland have never experienced a case of BSE,462W but it is not possible to estimate the proportions of these or other herds that would have eligible animals for export under either scheme until the rules have been finalised.