HC Deb 26 October 2001 vol 373 cc408-9W
Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how the foot and mouth disease relief funding announced on Thursday 18 October will be allocated; [10096]

(2) which Regional Development Agencies will receive additional funding as part of the extension of the Business Recovery Fund announced on 18 October. [10099]

Alun Michael

[holding answer 25 October 2001]: Five Regional Development Agencies will receive a share of the extra £15 million extension of the Business Recovery Fund provided by DEFRA:

£ million
North West 7.0
North East 1.5
Yorkshire 2.0
West Midlands 1.5
South West 3.0

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when farmers who have been promised compensation relating to foot and mouth disease will receive it; when outstanding monetary payments in respect of contracts with his Department will be made; and what formula is used for calculating such payments. [8155]

Mr. Morley

The Department aims to pay compensation to farmers for animals slaughtered for foot and mouth disease control as soon as possible, subject to the checks necessary to protect public funds. At present there are just 33 payments outstanding at HQ.

Turning to contractors, our target is to pay those we employ within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Given the large number of suppliers of goods and services which the Department has contracted—all of whom expect to be paid promptly—this target has proved difficult to meet. However, the time taken to process invoices is being reduced.

There is a duty to ensure proper, effective and efficient use of public money. This means that the Department cannot pay invoices for goods and/or services that are not accompanied by accurate supporting information as to the nature and extent of the goods and services supplied. Unfortunately this information is not always provided by some of the suppliers we have employed. This has made the Department's task much harder, and is often one of the main reasons for delays.

Invoices submitted to DEFRA by contractors are scrutinised individually to assess their validity. There is no standard formula to calculate payments.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide financial help to assist farmers with feeding animals over the winter period on farms affected by foot and mouth disease. [6208]

Mr. Morley

My officials are in touch with the Arthur Rank Foundation and with industry bodies about the work of the ARF's National Fodder Bureau and Government match funding for this charitable work.