T9. Mr Lyons asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on Northern Ireland uptake of the EU milk production reduction aid scheme. (AQT 274/16-21)

I thank the Member for his question. The Rural Payments Agency has confirmed that there have been 611 applications from Northern Ireland. Production reduction will take place in the period from October to December of this year. That equates to 22% of dairy farms in Northern Ireland. The total volume reduction will equate to 21·37 million litres, which is a 4·17% reduction compared with last year.

I thank the Minister for her answer. How does that reduction compare with the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland?

It equates to 33% of the total UK applications and 20% of the UK volume of reduction. There were 892 applications in England, 194 in Wales and 154 in Scotland. The UK submitted the eighth highest number of applications to the EU and the third highest quantity of proposed reduction. The comparison with the Republic of Ireland is that they had the third highest number of applications and the fifth highest quantity. I inform Members that the closing date for the second tranche will be 12 October, so this is a scheme that is ongoing.

Mr Gerry Kelly is not in his place. Time is therefore up. That concludes Question Time. I invite the House to take its ease while we make a change at the top Table.

(Madam Principal Deputy Speaker [Ms Ruane] in the Chair)