asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of money expected to be paid out in 1978 for cattle headage payments; and the total amount that could be paid under EEC legislation for the headage scheme.
Written Answers. - Cattle Headage Payments.
476.
It is estimated that about £19 million will be paid during the current year as compensatory allowances for livestock under the EEC directive relating to cattle headage payments schemes. This amount covers part of the payments in respect of 1978 and balances of payments in respect of 1977, 1976 and 1975. Because of this time span and the fact that rates of allowances have changed from year to year, it is not practicable to calculate what is the maximum amount that could be paid in any particular year. However, the minimum allowance applicable from 1 January 1978 under the EEC directive is £12.20 per livestock unit and the maximum is £39.57. Our current rates of allowances are £17 for each of the first eight livestock units and £12 for each of the next 22 units under the cattle headage payments scheme in severely handicapped areas and £17 for each of the first ten cows and £12 per cow for each of the next 18 cows under the beef cow scheme in the less disadvantaged areas.