Mr Jim Nicholson: We all know that the quotas are not being properly implemented in other European countries, whereas in the United Kingdom they are being properly implemented. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Northern Ireland, where 5,000 dairy farmers stand to pay a levy of £5·2 million. Is the Minister aware of the serious damage that this will do to Northern Ireland, agriculture and does he regard...
Mr Jim Nicholson: asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Northern Ireland dairy industry has been affected so far by the introduction of milk quotas in April.
Mr Jim Nicholson: If the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food continues to deny Northern Ireland the full benefits of the special Northern Ireland allocation, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the Government fully implement their decision to equalise hardship throughout the United Kingdom, so that all hardship cases, especially those in Northern Ireland, receive equal and fair treatment?
Mr Jim Nicholson: I am honoured to put forward the case again for Northern Ireland. I apologise, and crave the indulgence of hon. Members, for again taking them across the Irish sea. I listened with great interest to previous speakers relating the problems in their individual constituencies. I sympathise with those representing Wales, but I can tell them that theirs is not the worst hit region in the United...
Mr Jim Nicholson: My hon. Friend has made an important point. I must agree with him. Any Minister who could bring such an agreement back from Brussels, for any part of the United Kingdom, is capable of anything. I propose to be crisp and to the point. I end by repeating my earlier plea. I hope that, when he replies, the Minister will deal effectively with the problems of Northern Ireland. I hope that I shall...
Mr Jim Nicholson: We have travelled far through the United Kingdom in the debate. We have been to Wales, to Scotland and to nearly every county and shire in England. I propose to take the House across the Irish sea to Northern Ireland, and to bring to its attention the serious problems that face Northern Ireland producers. I have listened with interest to the speeches of hon. Members. Every hon. Member seems...
Mr Jim Nicholson: I hope that I shall not induce a similar answer from the Secretary of State. Will he confirm that the security measures which were introduced after the Mountain Lodge murders in my constituency have been drastically reduced?
Mr Jim Nicholson: In my experience, building contractors are just as guilty of depositing muck on the roads. Perhaps they could set an example to the farmers in this respect. I support the amendment.
Mr Jim Nicholson: In addressing the House this evening, I wish first to refer to Class I of the Appropriation order. I do not wish to raise again the many points that I made last Thursday. I shall spare the Minister that prospect. However, there were one or two points that I did not have time to elaborate fully last Thursday, and I should like to take them up again today. Furthermore, my hon. Friend the Member...
Mr Jim Nicholson: I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I do not doubt that what he says is correct, and I agree with him about the number of dormant factories in Northern Ireland. Indeed, in my constituency a number of factories now lie dormant. I hope that the time will soon come when they will again be used for production. Last year, when the Bairnswear factory in my constituency burnt to the...
Mr Jim Nicholson: My hon. Friend makes an important point. What he described has occurred a number of times in my constituency. People have moved to one part in the first instance, and then on to a second. Many exercises are being embarked on in Northern Ireland, and this may be a good one for the Minister to embark upon. I am not saying that we do not need new housing, because we certainly do. We need some...
Mr Jim Nicholson: Perhaps not another one.
Mr Jim Nicholson: I am grateful for the opportunity to bring before the House the difficulties facing Northern Ireland dairy farmers and producers. Farming at the best of times can be a difficult occupation, no matter what enterprise might be pursued by the farmer. Farming is hard enough when one has to battle against the elements, without having to defend oneself against those whom one would expect to be on...
Mr Jim Nicholson: I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. Many will be put on the dole queue. Some will have to apply for family income supplement or other assistance. We have to look at it the other way as well. The farmer with 18 cows who cuts by 9 per cent. the size of his herd will be left with only 15 cows. He will miss those cows terribly, but the producer with 200 cows who cuts the size of his herd...
Mr Jim Nicholson: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the serious concern in my constituency about the continuing murder of civilians and members of the security forces? Is he further aware that two members of the Territorial Army and two members of the RUC were recently murdered in my constituency and that three members of the RUC mercifully escaped a murderous attack on them outside Armagh last week? What...
Mr Jim Nicholson: asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider introducing a scheme in Northern Ireland to purchase, and then redistribute, milk quotas from those who wish to retire from the industry.
Mr Jim Nicholson: I welcome the Minister's answer. Does he agree that the present quota system is biting deep for dairy farmers in Northern Ireland? Does he agree also that something must be done urgently to alleviate that, as those farmers must cut production, not by 9 per cent., but by 14 to 15 per cent.? Will something be done to relieve the problem quickly?
Mr Jim Nicholson: Is the Minister aware that it is clear that there will be a much greater problem of hardship cases under the EEC milk quota arrangements in Northern Ireland? I fully support the view of the Ulster Farmers Union that it is essential that the Minister introduces measures to reduce the level of hardship for Northern Ireland dairy farmers, considering that we did not get the 65,000 tonnes which...
Mr Jim Nicholson: —give an undertaking that measures will be introduced to relieve the special problems of Northern Ireland dairy producers?
Mr Jim Nicholson: In many ways I feel slightly inadequate following my hon. Friend the Member for Upper Bann (Mr. McCusker) on a subject on which he is so knowledgeable. The gas will supposedly come, but I wish to concentrate on how it will come and from where. The pipline will have to cross a fair chunk of my constituency, and it is concern on that point that I wish to express. My concern is for those whose...
