§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farmers have been paid the advance suckler cow premium since 1 November; how many are awaiting payment; and if he will make a statement on progress regarding the regular payment of the ASCP on an agreed basis; [143950]
(2) if he will add interest at the rate of 8 per cent. to the advance suckler cow premium due to be paid to farmers on 6 December; and if he will make a statement. [143949]
§ Ms QuinIn England, just under 19,800 producers submitted a 2000 Scheme year Suckler Cow Premium Scheme (SCPS) claim. Of these around 15 per cent. had received their first advance payments by 5 January.
Although the Citizen's Charter deadline for making advance payments is 6 March 2001, we fully expect that all producers who submitted a correctly completed claim will receive their advance payments during January. In addition, we have taken advantage of a very recently agreed Commission Regulation to make suckler cow advance payments at a rate of 80 per cent. of the total amount due, rather than the usual 60 per cent.
The published Citizen's Charter target for making advance SCPS payments for the 2000 Scheme year is 6 March 2001. Interest would be considered only in cases where payments were made after this date, and where MAFF was fully responsible for the delay.