To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the limitation of ewe headage payments to existing numbers; and if he will make a statement.

We receive a wide variety of representations about the detailed operation of the rules governing the payment of sheep annual premium and hill livestock compensatory allowances. These rules are laid down by EC Regulation. We are not aware of any impending proposals from the European Commission to limit payments to existing ewe numbers.