Sheep Premium Grants

HC Deb 14 June 1994 vol 244 cc443-4W

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is(a) the estimated number of farmers in England entitled to receive sheep premium grants and (b) the number of claims, together with the

£ million (Scheme year)
	1991	1992	1993	1994 (estimate)
Beef Special Premium			63.9	75.4
including extensification premium	21.1	25.8	82.6	92.4
Suckler Cow Premium			43.5	64.3
including extensification premium	33.9	38.8	55.9	77.8
Sheep Annual Premium (including Less Favoured Area Supplement)	120.0	175.1	182.4	208.6

Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps she intends to take to prevent environmental damage other than over-grazing on grazed land, with particular reference to lowland areas.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Our policies will continue to employ a range of instruments to help prevent environment damage. These include codes of good agricultural practice for the protection of soil, water and air; the provision of free advice to farmers on conservation and avoiding pollution; a number of targeted incentive schemes—for example, environmentally sensitive areas scheme—and safeguards within the arable support scheme.

The reformed arable support arrangements also include measures to prevent environmental damage. They render permanent grassland ineligible for arable support payments. And all farmers receiving arable support payments must observe a range of conditions on set-aside land, including protection of environmental features,

corresponding percentage figure expressed as a proportion of (a), which were settled by (i) 30 April 1994, (ii) 15 May 1994 and (iii) 31 May 1994.

Mr. Jack

Some 64,000 sheep producers in England received automatic allocations of quota, or received quota under the special arrangements for 1992, first time claimants. These producers were eligible for payments under the 1993 sheep annual premium scheme, provided they met the other requirements of the scheme. Some farmers combine to submit only one claim and the total number of 1993 claims was 42,713. As at 30 April 1994, 88 per cent. of first and second advances under the 1993 scheme had been paid and 65 per cent. had also received the final payment. At 15 May, the corresponding figures were 89 per cent. and 72 per cent. respectively and at 31 May 89 per cent. and 86 per cent. respectively.