§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the average payment made from the £85 million compensation package, announced on 22 December per(a) head of cattle and (b) beef farmer. [29828]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 February 1998]: Of the £85 million agrimonetary compensation package to be paid to UK livestock farmers, £72.5 million will be distributed to suckler cow producers who were paid under the 1996 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme with the remaining £12.5 million to be paid to sheep producers. The payment rate will be £44.20 for each suckler cow on which 1996 premium was paid in full, lower if penalties were applied to the 1996 premium claim. Based on the average claim size for the UK as a whole, the average payment per suckler producer will be in the region of £1,300.