HC Deb 17 December 1992 vol 216 cc405-6W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effect upon Welsh farming incomes of changes in hill livestock compensatory allowances.

Mr. David Hunt

The rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1993 recently announced will in themselves mean reduced receipts of about £6.8 million for sheep producers in the severely disadvantaged area—SDA—of Wales. This, however, will be more than offset by increased receipts from the sheep annual premium consequent upon green pound devaluations already announced. The HLCA rate payable on ewes in the disadvantaged area has not yet been determined.

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that hill livestock compensatory allowance payments are made by the end of February 1993.

Mr. David Hunt

Producers submit claims for hill livestock compensatory allowances throughout the period from January to the end of March, and some do so thereafter. My Department aims to pay 80 per cent. of claims received by the end of March.

Mr. Jonathan Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table outlining the effect of the proposed reduction in hill livestock compensatory allowances in each Welsh county.

Mr. David Hunt

The effect on producer receipts of the proposed reduction in hill livestock compensatory allowances in each of the Welsh Counties is shown in the followng table. The figures are based on the number of hardy ewes and other ewes qualifying for SDA payments in 1991.

County Loss of HLCA receipts £
Gwynedd 1,423,334
South and West Glamorgan 129,765
Mid Glamorgan 302,647
Gwent 160,123
Dyfed 1,144,185
Powys 2,780,774
Clwyd 868,182

Mr. Jonathan Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the value, at 1980 prices, of Welsh hill livestock compensatory allowances for each year since 1980.

Mr. David Hunt

The information is as follows:

Year Value in real terms £ million
1980 19.8
1981 20.4
1982 19.3
Year Value in real terms £ million
1983 18.7
1984 17.9
1985 17.9
1986 18.9
1987 18.8
1988 18.4
1989 17.6
1990 17.6
1991 19.1