§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint an independent arbiter for English farmers in order to rule on disputes between English farmers and his Department on similar lines to the one to be set up for Scottish farmers. [86416]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 14 June 1999]My right hon. Friend the Minister is considering the possible implications for English farmers of the undertaking by the Scottish Executive to introduce an independent appeal mechanism for Scottish farmers suffering penalties in relation to their claims for subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In cases where CAP subsidies are reduced or refused, farmers already have the options of seeking Judicial Review or of asking their Member of Parliament to raise the matter with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.