asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost to the Northern Ireland meat industry of financing eight to nine week delays in exchange refund payments by the Intervention Board for Agriculture for meat placed under customs control in Northern Ireland; and if he will take steps to reduce delay in payment to the 10 to 14-day pattern of other EEC countries.

I regret that the information requested is not available, but every effort is being made to overcome these delays.