§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time of payment for compensation for loss of stock under the brucellosis eradication scheme; and if this can be reduced to two weeks.
§ Mr. William RossFor the old counties of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, where compulsory eradication began on 1st April 1975, the average time taken to pay compensation for cattle slaughtered has been 21 days calculated from the time the cattle were valued on the farm until payment was sent to their owner. Every effort continues to be made to ensure that herd owners are sent their compensation as quickly as possible.