asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if grants for pollution control that are at present available under the western package will be extended to the rest of the country.
33.
Written Answers. - Agriculture Grants.
20.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the arrangements for consideration of the Government's proposals for the agriculture and food sector in the context of the submission to Brussels for increased moneys from EC Structural Fund.
46.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will give details of the new higher grant levels for measures to combat farmyard pollution and to provide animal housing in non-western counties as indicated in the recently announced national plan.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 33 and 46 together.
Discussions are continuing with the EC Commission on all aspects of the national plan which has been submitted to them. The next step will be to agree with the Commission on a Community support framework which will establish the degree of financial support to be provided by the Community. The proposals in the plan relating to regional measures in the agriculture and rural development sectors will be implemented through operational programmes which will be drawn up by my Department by reference to that Community support framework and agreed with the Commission.
Measures which apply across the Community, such as support for the food industry, are due to be amended by the Council of Ministers before 31 December 1989 and the implementation of this part of the plan must, therefore, await the Council's decision as to how these measures are to operate for the future.
An operational programme is being prepared for submission to Brussels, under which the pollution control, basic animal housing and fodder storage aids would be extended nationwide.
The finalisation of specific schemes to implement the plan proposals will have to await the completion of the procedures which I have outlined.