asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is any proposal before the European Commission to separate milk quotas from land; and if he will outline his views on the matter.
Written Answers. - Land-Quota Link.
59.
The Commission has not brought forward any proposals to break the link between land and quota. This issue will have to be considered in the context of whether, and, if so, in what form, quotas are to continue after the end of the 1991-1992 marketing year. It is a complex question the answer to which could have significant implications for the distribution of quotas. In the event of the Commission considering this option I would, therefore, need to study those implications very carefully before coming to any conclusion.
I am, of course, in favour of the quota system being made more flexible so as to enable additional quotas to be made available to small scale producers, young farmers and other priority category farmers and I will continue to press for any changes in the system that will enable this to take place.