§ 90. Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that companies in the food and drink industry are receiving740W prompt payment for export refunds from the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce; and what arrangements he is making for payment on account until the payment difficulties are resolved.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonInstallation of the Intervention Board's new computerised export refund claims system has been subject to extended delivery delays and technical problems. These have significantly lengthened the payment times for export refunds so far this year. To overcome them, the board has progressively brought additional commodity sectors on to the system, transferred the system to a more powerful computer, strengthened its project management, and improved the speed and volume of processing and payment by hiring extra administrative staff and technical assistance. By these means the board plans to return to more normal payment times by the autumn. The board has also been examining payment on account arrangements, but these also present administrative and financial difficulties.