Vol. 424 No. 9
109 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give the details of the proposed EC Farm Retirement Scheme; the date it will be implemented; and the resources, if any, which will be made available to the scheme annually.
127 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he has to amend the EC pre-retirement package for farmers by removing the stipulation that the new landowner must increase his or her total acreage.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 127 together.
Measures for the implementation of the EC Regulation which provides for a pension to farmers over 55 years of age who transfer their farms to suitable transferees are being formulated at present. The draft measures are being discussed with the EC Commission with particular reference to the stipulation that the farm being transferred should be enlarged. The discussions have not yet been concluded.
The scheme will be financed by the EC to the extent of 75 per cent.
Details of the implementation of the EC Regulations in this country will be announced as soon as possible.
