§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost to public funds for the 620W work of the dairy produce quota tribunal in Scotland; and how often the tribunal is meeting and at what locations in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe current estimated cost of the fees and expenses of members of the dairy produce quota tribunal for Scotland is £90,000. Staffing and other support services are being provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the final cost of the tribunal's work will depend on the length of time taken to complete its consideration of cases.
In order to deal with cases as quickly as possible the tribunal has until now operated in four panels. A fifth panel has however been established in order to accelerate the handling of cases. Each panel is at present meeting for two days a week in Edinburgh.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress of the dairy produce quota tribunals in relation to the number of applications from producers to be treated as special cases, how many applications were received, and how many have now been dealt with by the tribunals.
§ Mr. John MacKayIn Scotland, 1,866 producers applied for additional milk quota as special or exceptional hardship cases. To date, 255 producers have had their cases rejected by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland on the grounds that they do not meet the requirements of the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1984. The Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal has considered the cases of some 600 producers.
Most of the applications were received from producers on or immediately before the closure date of 28 August, and have required detailed checking by staff of the three milk marketing boards in Scotland and of the Department. Bearing in mind the complexity of the applications and the need to ensure that cases are properly considered, I am entirely satisfied with the progress which the tribunal has made so far.