Sheep Annual Premium

HC Deb 24 November 1994 vol 250 cc372-3W

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when sheep annual premiums were finalised; on what date payments were authorised to be made; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The rate of premium for both the first and second advance of payment for 1994 was published in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities, No. L172 on 7 July 1994 as Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1640/94. Payments are authorised on an individual basis as and when they are processed.

Farmers in Wales received their advance payments much earlier this year and the great majority of claims were paid by the end of September.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheep annual premiums have been made to date; and what is the total value of such payments.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

As at 18 November, 15,283 claimants in Wales have been paid a total of £73.704,491 as advance premium under the 1994 scheme.