asked the Minister for Agriculture if the criterion in accepting areas for classification as severely handicapped has changed in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The classification of areas as severely handicapped is undertaken in accordance with Article 7 of EC Directive 75/268, which requires the amounts of compensatory allowances to be fixed according to the severity of the permanent natural handicaps affecting farming activities in disadvantaged areas. There has been no change in this article in the Directive.