I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 13 and 14 together.
Feed vouchers have been issued to some 78,000 farmers in the past ten days or so and they will make a substantial contribution to alleviating the hardship caused by the bad weather conditions of last summer and autumn.
There is no evidence that farmers are being forced to sell cattle because of insufficient fodder. Indeed, cattle slaughterings since the beginning of the year are running well below the levels for the corresponding period in 1985 and this suggests that the feed voucher scheme and the other relief measures undertaken by the Government have been successful in helping farmers to overwinter stock.
The suggested increase in headage payments in the disadvantaged areas would mean providing aid for a substantial number of farmers with little or no fodder problems and would cost some £28 million which, in the current Exchequer situation, it would not be possible to provide.