Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the minimum and maximum lengths of time that elapse between the removal of stock from a farm under the brucellosis eradication scheme and the receipt of payment by the owner; and, where payment is delayed for a long period, whether interest is paid to the owner.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesA random sample of some 15 per cent. of payments for stock slaughtered under the Northern Ireland brucellosis eradication scheme shows that the minimum time that elapsed between the removal of the animals and the payment of compensation to the owner was nine days and the maximum time was 24 days. The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture does not pay interest if there is a delay in payment. If the hon. Member has a particular case of delay in mind and supplies me with the details, I will have it investigated.