§ Mr. Johnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects to be in a position to provide criteria for establishing severe loss in particular circumstances for purposes of paying compensation to farmers suffering losses as a result of restrictions on the movement, sale and slaughter of sheep;
(2) what plans he has to compensate farmers who incur losses as a result of the ban imposed on the movement, sale and slaughter of sheep in North Wales and Cumbria; and whether these include (a) compensation for the fact that the Guide Price will be lower when the animals are finally marketed and (b) compensation for those farmers whose lambs become over-fat as a result of the delay and who therefore lose entitlement to the variable premium.
§ Mr. Baldryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of compensation available for farmers who lose livestock due to dangerous levels of radiation.
§ Mr. Jopling[pursuant to his reply, 26 June 1986]: In my statement on 20 June I said that, while the measures I announced to protect consumers were in the general interest of the British sheep industry, the Government would if necessary be prepared to discuss cases of compensation for severe loss in particular circumstances to specific farmers. It is, however, too early to assess the extent of any losses and thus to consider the question of compensation.