§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims for cereal deficiencies, ploughing grants, hill cow subsidies and calf subsidies have been refused by his Department since 1963 up to the latest convenient date, owing to non-receipt by his Department before the due closing date; what is the amount of subsidy consequently lost to the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement regarding future policy.
§ Mr. John MackieFigures for the numbers of late claims rejected in 1964 are not yet available, but I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are ready.
I can, however, give the numbers of late claims rejected in 1963, in relation to the total number of claims; these are:
— Total claims received Total late claims received Late claims received Cereals 140,000 350 183 Ploughing grants 103,000 731 454 Hills Cow subsidy 15,000 207 77 There is no closing date for the calf subsidy.
Records of the amount of money the applicants would have received if they had fulfilled the conditions of the schemes are not kept, and could not be obtained without a disproportionate effort.
I am reviewing the conditions governing acceptance of late claims, to satisfy myself that they are just and reasonable taking account of both the number of applicants whose claims are late and the overwhelming number of applicants who succeed in getting their claims in on time.