HL Deb 16 October 2001 vol 627 cc82-3WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What allocations have been made from the Social Fund Contingency Reserve to meet costs arising from the epidemic of foot and mouth disease. [HL773]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Treasury does not maintain a Social Fund Contingency Reserve. However, in addition to aid in excess of £1 billion paid to farmers affected by the outbreak so far, the Government have put in place several measures to help the countryside recover from foot and mouth disease including deferral of tax, VAT and national insurance contributions, which has helped over 20,000 businesses; establishment of a £50 million Business Recovery Fund; establishment of a rate relief scheme covering affected areas; and establishment of a matched funding scheme for charitable donations.

The Government have also made additional lending available through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.