asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will introduce a scheme of subsidies to help small farmers, under 25,000 gallons, to purchase quotas under the restructuring scheme to make their holdings viable; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that small producers cannot afford the present prices being paid by large suppliers; if he will consider returning to small suppliers under 25,000 gallons the quota taken under the clawback; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Milk Quota Purchase Subsidies.
86.
The difficulties of small scale producers under the quota system introduced in 1984 have been a major concern for me. For that reason I secured agreement from the Council of Ministers in 1987 to introduce a restructuring scheme giving special priority for the purchase of quota, without land, to small scale producers. There are no funds available to me to subsidise purchases of quota under the restructuring scheme.
I have laid down that priority for the purchase of quotas under the scheme is to be accorded to small scale milk producers.The scheme is in fact restricted to producers with quotas under 50,000 gallons and of these the first priority category is confined to producers with quotas of less than 30,000 gallons.
In regard to the clawback scheme, as I already announced the quantities available in that reserve are being allocated to certain small scale milk producers with quotas under 10,000 gallons and some qualified young farmers. As from 1 April 1989, I have provided that the clawback will apply only where the lessee's total quota exceeds 50,000 gallons instead of the 25,000 gallon ceiling which applied in 1988-89.