§ Mr. Muddasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications were submitted in 1982 under the sheep annual premium scheme; how many were approved, involving how many animals and at what cost; and how many applications were refused, involving how many animals and at what cost, in respect of claims drawn to the attention of the Ministry after 31 March 1982.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith79,172 claims were received in the United Kingdom in 1982. 78,329 were accepted, covering 14,072,952 ewes and generating £21,501,449 expenditure on advance payments of premium for the 1982–83 marketing year. The final rate of premium will not be known until after the end of the marketing year.
639 claims covering 55,201 ewes were received after the closing date of 31 March 1982 and were refused. Had all these ewes been eligible for payment, expenditure would have been an additional £86,101. In addition, we know of about 65 instances where a fanner claims to have submitted an application but none has been received. I cannot say how many ewes are involved in these cases.