asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in the coming review of milk quotas, he will endeavour to secure a just quota for those whose milk yields were severely reduced in the base year of 1982, because of the disease eradication scheme.
Written Answers. - Milk Quotas.
21.
A national reserve of seven million gallons was set up by the Government in 1984 in order to reallocate additional quotas to producers whose deliveries in the base year 1983 were affected by animal disease or certain other exceptional factors. Under the provisions laid down in the Community regulations these reallocations consisted of the substitution of the producer's deliveries in 1981 or 1982 (whichever was the higher) for those in 1983.
In addition I have now provided that the priority categories of farmers to be covered in the arrangements for both the restructuring scheme which I negotiated as part of this year's price package, and the distribution of flexi milk, will include producers affected by animal disease in the years 1978-83. I consider that these are the best arrangements I can make for this category of producers within the limited degree of flexibility available to me under the Community regulations.