§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are waiting for subsidy payments from the Rural Payments Agency(a) in Norfolk and (b) in England. [22612]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 13 December 2001]: The information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what percentage of subsidy payments were paid within three weeks in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001; [22613]
(2) for what reasons there have been delays in subsidy payments to farmers by the Rural Payments Agency. [22614]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 13 December 2001]: Most IACS (integrated administration and control system) schemes are subject to regulatory payment windows determining the earliest and latest dates for payment to be made. Progress in processing claims for individual schemes varies from year to year and is influenced in particular by the workloads faced by the offices handling the claims and by the extent of any regulatory changes. This year claim processing on all schemes has been affected by the diversion of staff to foot and mouth disease duties and by industrial action. In addition livestock claims have had to be cross-checked with FMD slaughter records and bovine scheme claim processing has been delayed because new computer software had to be developed to reflect regulatory changes.
The percentage of IACS subsidy claims sent for payment within the first three weeks of the opening of the payment window in 2000 and 2001 was as shown in the table.
2000 2001 Arable Area Payments 83 51 Slaughter Premium 18 0 Beef Special Premium (advance) 74 0 Beef Suckler Cow (advance) 0 0 Sheep Annual Premium 1st advance 97.2 86.2 2nd advance 99.4 97.8