§ Baroness Cohen of Pimlicoasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will make an application to the European Union Commission for agrimonetary compensation for cereals producers. [HL4503]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)In view of the very difficult trading conditions faced by UK arable farmers the Government have decided to ask the EU Commission to drawn 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.