§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that all payments due under the Slaughter Payments Scheme in respect of 2001 are cleared and that all disputes over such payments are settled. [108037]
§ Alun MichaelUnder the EC legislation' governing the bovine schemes, to be eligible for such aid payments cattle have to be properly identified and registered in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. This requires keepers to notify all movements (and dates of movement) to and from their holding within a fixed period of time. The Rural Payments Agency is required276W by EC legislation2 to carry out cross-checks to the cattle tracing database to ensure Community aid is granted only for bovine animals for which the births, movements and deaths have been duly notified.
Cross-check failures due to missing movements are divided into various categories. Most categories are reviewed by the Agency at the office dealing with the claim. A final category is considered by a Review Panel comprising representatives from the Rural Payments Agency and the National Farmers Union. Industry representatives on the Panel give assurance of a fair review. Agency staff are striving to complete the review so that aid payments can be finalised for eligible animals.
For the 2001 English Adult Animal Slaughter Premium Scheme, 98.2 per cent. of claims have been authorised for payment. 97.4 per cent. of claims have had balance payments made. The claims still undergoing processing are largely those that failed cross-checks required to confirm eligibility to Community aid.
1 Article 21 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999
2 Article 6(2)(b) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3887/92