§ 23. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why payments to Scottish farmers of hill and upland compensatory allowances are behind those to farmers in England and Wales; and whether, in view of the fact that most of these payments by his Department will be about three months late, he will add interest accrued.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownI fully appreciate the need to make payment as quickly as possible and my Department is working overtime for that purpose.
145WAbout 9,000 of the 21,500 claims received have been passed for payment and the remainder will be cleared by about the end of May.
Payment must be spread over a period; the time required this year is about the same as in previous years. There is no commitment to payment by a specific date and no question of payment of interest.