§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an application for agrimonetary compensation for cereals producers. [136932]
§ Mr. Nick BrownIn view of the very difficult trading conditions faced by UK arable farmers, the Government have decided to ask the EU Commission to draw down £34 million of the optional agrimonetary compensation available this year. This is in addition to the £57 million agrimonetary compensation already announced for this autumn. The extra money will provide valuable assistance to the arable sector at an exceptionally difficult time and follows a series of discussions with NFU leaders about the present problems of the arable sector.