asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cows have been taken out of dairying in the United Kingdom in response to the European Economic Community's non-marketing and conversion schemes.

Applications under the non-marketing of milk and conversion premium scheme approved up to 30 April 1980 accounted for 191,280 cows, comprising 139,930 under the non-marketing section and 51,350 under the section providing for conversion to beef or sheepmeat production. The current size of the dairy herd as shown in the December 1979 census is 3,342 thousand head.