§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on supplementary compensation to be paid to those farmers who were early victims of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesInformation that I have received from a number of sources, including the President of the National Farmers' Union, has confirmed that the contribution of £150,000 was in response to a special appeal to farmers who had suffered loss from foot-and-mouth disease between 25th October and 19th November, 1967—that is, during the first four weeks of the outbreak. This appeal was organised on the basis that each affected farmer contributing £1 would in effect get it back with an additional £1 from the Government. For the Government to match such a contribution would turn the Government's contribution into a direct grant. This would not be in accordance with the concept of a £1 for £1 Scheme, and the National Farmers' Union has been so informed.
Nevertheless, the Government have decided to make an ex gratin payment of £50,000 in addition to the contribution which they are making to match the total of just under £100,000 collected through the National Farmers' Union Appeal Fund. Part of this contribution has already been paid and the balance will now be made available along with the extra £50,000. In effect, therefore, the Government are contributing £1 10s. for each £1 collected by the National Farmers' Union. This is of course in addition to the Government's payment to farmers of £26.5 million compensation for all animals slaughtered during the epidemic, which fulfilled the Government's statutory obligations