Explanatory note

This scheme, which is made under section 106 of the Agriculture Act 1970, enables payments to be made in connection with the elimination of brucellosis from herds of cattle in eradication areas.

First, it provides for payments, to be known as incentive payments, to be made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland as supplements to hill cattle and beef cow subsidy payments at the rate of £5 per animal and, where milk is the subject of payments under a milk marketing scheme, by the appropriate board at the rate of .8p. per gallon. These will be paid in respect of herds whose owners agree with the appropriate Minister on or after 1st November 1971 to undertake voluntary eradication on terms which include a replacement grant, but no other compensation, for each slaughtered reactor. They will start with the commencement of eradication and finish approximately one year after the herd qualifies for accreditation.

Secondly, advance payments may be made where the number of rectors in the herd is not less than 10 per cent of the number of animals tested. These will be paid on animals not found to be reactors and will be at the rate of £5 per animal in predominantly beef herds and £6.50 in predominantly dairy herds. Provision is made for a corresponding reduction of subsequent incentive payments.