asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why pure minced meat cannot be exported but ordinary meat can.

The Government do not restrict the export of minced meat. But many countries have strict controls on import of uncooked mince on animal and public health grounds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to persuade the Council of Ministers to allow third country export subsidies on pure beef mince.

Decisions on eligibility for export restitutions are a matter for the European Commission. The Commission consider that export restitutions on beef mince would be inappropriate because of the practical difficulties of controlling the nature and content of the product.