§ 11. Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect of the weather upon the 1994 lambing season in upland Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsIt is too soon to assess the overall effect of this winter's weather on the lambing season. Lambing is still in progress on many upland farms where the most recent spell of warmer, drier weather should have eased some of the problems.
§ Mr. CarlileI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his answer. Given the terrible weather of late March and early April, will he keep an open mind? If it can be shown that this year's losses were higher than could reasonably have been expected—taking into account business risk—will he then consider the possibility of special weather aid payments?
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThat is why we have special payments—particularly for upland farmers, who must contend with special problems. Those difficulties are taken into account in the autumn review, after we have considered exactly how problems such as the current ones involving lambing have affected farm incomes.