asked the Minister for Agriculture the criteria used in deciding on payments under the mountain lamb extension scheme; the number of payments, and the cost of the scheme to date.
Written Answers. - Mountain Lamb Extension Scheme.
387.
The mountain lamb extension scheme applies to wether lambs which qualified for subsidy under the headage scheme for mountain lambs at inspections the previous summer and which are exported live or in carcase form during the period of operation of the extension scheme. To be eligible for subsidy under the scheme lambs exported in carcase form must meet specified quality standards. Lambs presented for export live must be judged to be capable of producing a carcase of the standard specified for carcase exports.
The subsidy payable under the 1980 Scheme is £2 per head. Claims for subsidy have been received from 510 applicants to date and payments amounting to £87,898 have already been made. The total cost of the scheme this year is estimated at £150,000.