asked the Minister for Energy if he will arrange for priorities for oil used for grass drying to be given to British farmers, in view of the fact that the EEC Commission's proposals on the review of the Common Agricultural Policy proposed that alternative forms of protein, such as grass drying, should be stimulated within the EEC.

The production of feedingstuffs, which is regarded as including grass drying, is already a priority use for the purposes of the oil allocation scheme. Any farmer whose allocation is insufficient to meet his essential needs should contact his local DTI regional office through his normal oil supplier.